SWARD

S. J. Grayston, C. D. Campbell, J. L. Lutze, and R. M. Gifford, Impact of elevated COi on the metabolic diversity of microbial communities in N-limited grass swards. Plant Soil 205 289 (1998). 

Solardome facility Elevated CO2 Juncus/Nardus sward Festuca turf 89... 

A. H. C. M. Schapendonk, P. Dijkstra, J. Groenwold, C. S. Pot, and S. C. Van De Geijn, Carbon balance and water use efficiency of frequently cut Loliuni perenne L. swards at elevated carbon dioxide. Global Change Biol. 5 207 (1997). 

It is generally assumed that leys will out-yield permanent pasture. The main reason for this assumption is that by definition leys are grown on fields that can be ploughed, whereas permanent pasture is mainly on steep, stony or inaccessible land which is difficult or impossible to plough. It is not therefore the sward constituents that are determining the difference in yield, but the soil type, depth, pH and nutrient status. 

Under-grazing on the other hand will result in decreased utilisation of herbage by the animal, due to large amounts of senescent and wasted material. When a sward reaches full canopy, the rate of senescence will equal the rate of new leaf appearance and there will be no further increase in the weight of the standing crop (Fig. 2.2). 

The problem in predicting the yield characteristics of a grass/white clover sward is that the relationship between yield and proportion of white clover in the sward is not linear. Grass/white clover swards yield more dry matter than either grass or white clover swards on their own, but the point where increasing the amount of white clover in the sward actually decreases total yield has not been defined experimentally. 

Curll, M.L., Wilkins, R.J., Snaydon, R.W. Shanmugalingham, V.S. (1985) The effects of stocking rate and nitrogen fertilizer on a perennial ryegrass -white clover sward. Grass and Forage Science, 40, 129-40. 

There are two basic methods of introducing white clover into the sward. One is to plough the field up and sow it as part of a seeds mixture, and the second is to slot seed into an existing grass sward. In both cases the clover proportion can be changed by subsequent management. 

The second and third instances of clover increase on organic farms concern a hill farm in Wales and another in Scotland. In both cases the farmers felt that they should plough up their fields and resow to a grass and white clover mixture, mainly because the swards were thin, low yielding and only had small quantities of white clover present. In the case of the Welsh hill farm which was over 400 m high near... 

Further results of introducing cattle are, first, to increase the clover content of the sward, because cattle prefer grass and, second, to increase the proportion of land required for hay or silage for the winter. Cattle often have to be fed hay/silage for six months of the year, whereas sheep require winter feeding for only two months. However, the cattle will produce much more farmyard manure, which can be put back on the pastures that were cut for hay or silage. 

Damascus steel, also known in the Western world as Damascene steel, is a special type of steel that was and is still used to make sward and knifeblades. Apparently, Damascus steel was first made in India, where it was known as wootz or kuft, and later (during the second century b.c.e.) it was developed in Persia. The name "Damascus steel" was used by the Crusaders to describe the steel used by sword smiths of Damascus, Syria, famous for their ability to hammer and temper the steel into fine blades. The sword blades made from the steel had a reputation for their exceptional properties, especially their toughness, the retention of their cutting edge, as well as for a particular and characteristic decorative pattern on their surface (Figiel 1991). 

Weller R F and Bowling P J (2002), The yield and quality of plant species grown in mixed organic swards , in Kyriazakis I and Zervas G, Organic Meat and Milk from Ruminants, Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands 177-180. 

Niezen, J., Ha., R., Sidey, A. and Wilson, S. (2002a). The effect of pasture species on parasitism and performance of lambs grazing one of three grass - white clover pasture swards . Veterinary Parasitology, 105, 303-215. 

The Seasonal Tropical Forest and Woody Savanna ecosystems are common in tropical regions with a short dry period. The characteristic features of soils from these ecosystems are the neutral reaction of soil solution and periodic leaching during wet season. The herbaceous species favor the formation of both sward and humus horizons. 

C.M. Neag, Coatings characterization by thermal analysis. In J.V. Koleske (Ed.), Paint and coating Testing Manual. Gardner-sward Handbook, 14th ed., ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, 1995, Chapter 75, ASTM Man. 17 (1995) 843-845. 

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