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| List of contributors | |
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| Foreword | |
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| Preface to the third edition | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Objectives | |
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| The development and distribution of grasslands | |
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| Classification of grasslands - ecological | |
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| Classification of grasslands - agricultural | |
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| Leys and permanent pastures | |
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| Grassland production | |
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| Grass as a source of feed for livestock | |
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| Grass utilization | |
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| Grassland production and environmental objectives | |
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| References | |
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| Sward Establishment and Renovation | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Options for sward improvement and reseeding | |
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| Species for sowing | |
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| Sward establishment | |
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| Post-sowing management | |
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| Sward renovation | |
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| Sward establishment in special situations | |
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| References | |
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| The Principles of Pasture Growth and Utilization | |
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| The grass plant | |
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| The white clover plant | |
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| Factors affecting leaf growth | |
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| Some background on photosynthesis | |
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| The overall trade-off between growth and utilization | |
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| Different managements - or a question of scale? | |
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| Regrowth - and the ceiling to yield | |
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| The optional timing of harvest - marginal value theorem | |
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| Effects of 'residual sward state' on regrowth | |
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| Optional solutions for residual sward state and the duration of regrowth | |
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| Operational constraints to utilization under grazing | |
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| The functioning of clover, relative to grass, in mixed swards | |
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| Grass-legume balance - a problem and a theory | |
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| Modifying factors - adaptation to defoliation | |
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| Modifying factors - seasonal changes in physiology | |
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| Seasonal pattern(s) of grass production and utilization | |
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| Theory into practice - a basis for management | |
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| Heterogeneity and its impact on utilization | |
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| References | |
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| Herbage Production | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Measurement of herbage production | |
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| Climatic factors | |
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| Irrigation | |
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| Soil drainage | |
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| Soil pH and liming | |
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| Soil nutrient status and the role of fertilizers | |
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| Herbage production and botanical composition | |
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| References | |
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| Herbage Seed Production | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Use and production of herbage seed | |
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| Herbage seed production in the UK | |
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| Seed crop management | |
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| Seed certification | |
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| References | |
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| Weeds, Pests and Diseases of Grassland | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Weeds of grassland | |
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| Pests of grassland | |
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| Diseases of grassland | |
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| Fungal endophytes | |
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| Nutritional disorders | |
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| References | |
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| The Feeding Value of Grass and Grass Products | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Chemical and physical characteristics of forage | |
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| Nutritive value of forage | |
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| Regulation of forage intake | |
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| Digestion in the ruminant | |
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| Tissue utilization of forage energy and protein | |
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| The use of supplements and nutritional manipulants | |
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| Prediction of animal performance | |
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| Nutritional disorders | |
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| Potential for forages | |
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| References | |
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| The Conservation of Grass | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Principles of conservation | |
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| Crop management | |
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| Haymaking | |
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| Silage making | |
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| The ensilage process | |
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| Evaluation of silage quality | |
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| Silage additives | |
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| Production response of animals offered additive-treated silages | |
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| Silage technology | |
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| Silage losses | |
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| Future trends in silage making | |
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| References | |
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| Principles of Foraging and Grazing Behaviour | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Measuring grazing behaviour | |
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| Factors affecting bite mass | |
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| Factors affecting biting rate | |
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| Factors affecting grazing time | |
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| Meal patterns | |
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| Foraging in heterogeneous environments | |
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| Conclusions | |
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| References | |
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| Grassland Management under Grazing and Animal Response | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Potential production from grazed pasture | |
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| Effects of stocking rate, herbage allowance and grazing severity on animal performance | |
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| Grazing systems and integration with forage conservation | |
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| Principles of supplementation at pasture | |
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| Practical grazing management - dairy cows | |
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| Practical grazing management - beef cattle | |
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| Practical grazing management - sheep | |
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| Mixed and sequential grazing | |
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| Hill and upland grazing systems | |
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| Animal health on grazed pasture | |
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| References | |
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| Grassland Management for Natural Landscapes and Wildlife | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Value of grasslands for wildlife and landscape conservation | |
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| Grazing management | |
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| Mowing for hay | |
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| Use of artificial fertilizers, farmyard manure and lime | |
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| Use of herbicides, pesticides and veterinary products | |
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| Other management practices | |
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| Grassland management decision-making and management mechanisms | |
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| References | |
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| Amenity Grassland | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The importance of amenity turfgrass | |
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| The evolution of amenity grassland and the demands of modern turfgrass | |
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| Species of importance in amenity turfgrass | |
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| Establishment of turfgrass | |
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| Maintenance of turfgrass | |
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| Turfgrass stresses | |
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| References | |
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| Further information | |
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| Control and Utilization of Livestock Manures | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Plant nutrients in manures | |
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| Biochemical oxygen demand | |
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| Pathogens | |
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| Strategies for controlling losses and utilizing plant nutrients | |
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| Contamination of herbage | |
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| Farm nutrient budgets | |
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| Treatment of wastes | |
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| References | |
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| The Role and Management of Grassland in Organic Farming | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Principles of organic farming | |
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| Certification of organic farming | |
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| Contribution of grassland and forage legumes to organic farming systems | |
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| Organic grassland management in practice | |
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| References | |
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| Economic Aspects of Grassland Production and Utilization | |
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| Introduction | |
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| The framework for economic analysis | |
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| Efficiency in grassland farming | |
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| Defining optimality | |
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| Measuring economic performance in production | |
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| Determinants of profitability in grassland farming | |
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| Responding to the market | |
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| A cautionary note | |
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| Grassland and the non-food system | |
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| Grassland production and the environment | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |