Agriculture, and dairying in particular, has been identified as one of the key contributors to increased N in rural waterways. When you get down to it, there is primarily one aspect that has a major impact – and that is N from urine patches.
Accurate application of nitrogen fertiliser and responsible spreading of effluent assist in reducing the amount of N entering groundwater, but by far the majority of N leaching comes from the urine patch.
To date, controlling the N in the urine patch has been difficult and reducing the N fertiliser application rate has been seen as the most practical solution. Managing N better in Ireland is a major issue going forward, and Ecotain™ provides a solid solution for farmers. Ecotain™ is an excellent example of a high quality, productive forage plantain.
Ecotain™ environmental plantain has diuretic properties which increases urine volume and therefore decreases urinary N concentration. Animals urinate more frequently which spreads the urine patch across a greater area. In addition Ecotain generally has a higher water content than ryegrass – which also increases the volume of urine the animals produce and further dilutes the N content.
Typically, the more N contained in the feed, the more N is present in the urine and is recycled back into the soil via urine. However, Ecotain™ is different in that it reduces the total amount of dietary N being excreted in the urine, compared to ryegrass diets. Studies show that at equal N intake, Ecotain™ diets will result in less total N released in urine compared to ryegrass diets.
Urine patches from animals represent up to 90% of the N lost through leaching in the grazing system. The amount of N in a typical urine patch far exceeds what plants are able to uptake. Using Ecotain™, the N excreted in urine becomes slow release – its conversion from ammonium to nitrate is delayed, allowing plants a longer period to uptake N which therefore reduces the risk of N leaching.
The amount of N in a typical urine patch far exceeds what plants are able to uptake. Using Ecotain™, the N excreted in urine becomes slow release – its conversion from ammonium to nitrate is delayed, allowing plants a longer period to uptake N which therefore reduces the risk of N leaching.
BENEFITS
DRY MATTER PERFORMANCE
For more information on DLF Ecotain™, please contact Dr Thomas Mooney, Technical Manager tmoloney@dlfseeds.ie.