Grassland Set Aside Variety Trial - DELTA FARMLAND & WILDLIFE TRUST

Grassland Set-Aside Seed Variety Trial

What is a Grassland Set Aside?

A Grassland-Set Aside is a farm field planted with flowers, grasses and broad-leaved plants, and left to rest for up four years. The resting fields are replenished with vital nutrients over time, while providing food and homes for birds, pollinators, and small mammals. The grassland set-asides (GLSAs) also provide ecosystem services for the larger community, such as carbon storage, water filtration, pollination of neighbouring fields and gardens, biodiversity, and birdwatching opportunities.

Variety Trial

For this Variety Trial we seeded seven different plots to compare a range of seed mixes and to identify options that establish well and provide lasting benefits for soil health and wildlife habitat on farms. The different mixes test a variety of grasses, legumes, flowers with the goal of finding combinations that balance rapid establishment, persistent ground cover, soil building, forage value, and habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

The trial also explores how different species perform under Delta’s variable soil and moisture conditions, helping identify mixes that can provide reliable results across a range of farm fields.