Its potential environmental benefits and high nutritional value make it an increasingly appealing crop.
"Plantain is useful for supporting milk production or for finishing sheep and beef, and could reduce nitrogen leaching," says Ballance Forage Specialist Murray Lane.
Research into plantain's ability to reduce nitrogen leaching has found it has "the potential to reduce N leaching from the urine patch by up to 89% in combination with other forage strategies".1
AgResearch scientists have also found plantain can help reduce nitrous oxide emissions. These emissions were 39-74% less in autumn and winter where plantain was planted, compared to perennial ryegrass.
"Plantain suffers in summer drought, but its coarse, fibrous root system helps it last and respond quickly after summer-dry conditions. This is assuming it hasn't been overgrazed, which affects its crop vigour and longevity," says Murray.
Plantain grows throughout New Zealand, but doesn't thrive in heavy clay soils or those prone to waterlogging. In warm, moist regions it can provide valuable summer feed when pasture quality is poor. It can be grown as part of a mixed pasture, or as a stand-alone break crop in a pasture renewal programme.
Harness the power
"Even though plantain can tolerate a wide range of soil types, pH and fertility, treating it as you would high-value pasture, gets the best from it," he says. "Test soil to a depth of 15cm, six months before establishing plantain in spring. If sowing plantain as part of a pasture renewal programme, fertility and pH issues should be addressed well before the pasture goes in. Early weed control is difficult if establishing a crop of plantain and clover, as sprays designed for plantain will kill the clover."
Using a starter fertiliser such as Ballance DAP at sowing supports early growth, providing phosphorus and nitrogen to drive vigorous establishment. Drill around 150kg DAP/ha with the seed if the drill has a fertiliser box, or 250-300kg/ha if broadcasting.
If established as a 2-3-year crop, applying 25-30kg nitrogen (55-70kg SustaiN/ha) after each grazing will help maintain crop vigour. If it is sown in a mixed pasture sward, less nitrogen will be required because of the presence of clover. Plantain can be used to fill holes in pasture (the result of winter grazing damage), instead of allowing them fill up with annual weeds and summer grasses.
"Good fertility and early weed control is key, along with drilling with DAP at no more than 10-12mm deep. And don't forget to apply SustaiN after grazing."
For more information, contact your local Farm Source TSR or Ballance Nutrient specialist.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
1 Woods, 2017 - Ecotain environmental plantain booklet, Agricom Seeds. https://www.agricom.co.nz.
Article supplied by Ballance Agri-Nutrients.