Legumes in grassland

Implementation

Short term

Sustainability components

  • GHG emissions
  • Air quality
  • Soil
  • Water
  • Biodiversity
  • Animal welfare
  • Economic
  • Social
  • Technical feasibility

Climate risk region

Continental
Continental

Weather event addressed

Very high temperatures / Heat wave
Summer
Drought
Summer

Farming system

ANIMALS
Dairy cows

Description of the measure

Integration of legumes in grassland

Comments on sustainability

A diverse grassland is more stable than grassland with a high share of grass. Especially legumes, such as alfalfa are more drought tolerant than grass. It is important to have fields with different grassland compostions so the risk for yield losses is spread. Furthermore, diverse grassland increases the fodder value for the animals, stores N in the soil, improves the soil structure and the biodiversity on the field and reduces N2O emissions.