swards

A sward is the grassy surface of the ground covered by grasses and herbaceous plants, forming the vegetative layer of a lawn, meadow, pasture, or turf. In ecological and agricultural contexts, sward describes the plant community that covers a given area, as well as the physical layer created by the growth of grasses and forbs.

Across landscapes, swards vary in species composition, density, and height. Fine-leaved grasses, clovers, and other legumes often comprise productive pastures, while unmowed lawns may be dominated by turf grasses. Sward composition depends on soil fertility, moisture, grazing or mowing regime, and historically introduced species.

Swards influence soil stability, erosion control, and nutrient cycling. They provide habitat for invertebrates and support biodiversity, while their quality affects forage value and digestibility for grazing animals. Management aims to balance yield, persistence, and botanical composition, for example by adjusting stocking rates, mowing height, and reseeding.

Historically the term sward comes from Old English and is used in pasture science and turf management to describe the physical turf layer.