Laura Daly

Project Title: A study of farmer’s attitudes towards growing catch crops in a catchment with high stream water concentrations of nitrate N, whilst developing KT methodology to further adoption.

Overview: Laura’s project coincides with the Agricultural Catchments Programme, which is working with over 320 farms across 6 catchments to achieve safe water in diverse and productive agricultural landscapes under the changing climate. According to the EPA nitrate concentrations are unsatisfactory in 47% of river sites. Agriculture is said to be responsible for 85% of nitrogen in rivers in primarily rural catchments in the south and south east.

Laura’s research is based in the Castledockrell catchment, which is located in Co. Wexford. Tillage covers two-thirds of the catchment and the organic N stocking rate is 40 kg org N/ha. This catchment has the greatest average N concertation in its river, at 7.06 mg/l, despite having the lowest stocking rate of the six catchments.

In tillage farming, catch crops are shown to be effective in reducing NO3 -N leaching to groundwater through the uptake of N during the fallow period between crop harvest and subsequent planting of the next crop. The majority of catch crops sown currently in Ireland are used to meet GLAS green cover standards. Laura’s research aims to develop a refined message and strategy for advisors to encourage further catch crop adoption. Additionally, to enhance messaging and KT methods on dissemination to increase uptake of other technologies.

Supervisors: Teagasc: Dr. Bridget Lynch; UCD: Dr. Brian Leonard

Location: Enniscorthy