Sinead Kearney

Project Title: Investigating the agronomic suitability of perennial ryegrass – red clover silage swards

Overview: Interest is growing in red clover (RC) as a forage legume due to its potential to reduce and replace chemical nitrogen (N) and imported feed N, however, poor persistency is a key management challenge.

 Sinéad is working on plot studies to investigate the agronomic factors associated with the incorporation and persistence of red clover in silage swards. It is hoped that the results of her studies will provide enhanced information on the optimum sowing and defoliation management practices and N fertiliser application to improve yield and persistence of perennial ryegrass – red clover (PRG-RC) swards, as well as, increase the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of silage production systems.

 Sinéad is from Co. Cork and through her passion for dairy farming developed a keen interest in grassland management and forage production.

Programme area: Grassland Science

Supervisors: Michael Egan, Tomás Tubritt, Zoe McKay

Location: Moorepark

Funding source: Teagasc