Ecotain Plantain
Ecotain is a variety of plantain like no other – it is an Environmental Plantain that significantly reduces nitrate N leaching from the urine patch.
Agriculture is one of the major sources of N in rivers, streams and lakes in Ireland. Accurate application of fertiliser and organic manure can reduce the amount of N but there is strong evidence that the majority of N entering our water from agriculture originates in the urine patch.
Each time a cow urinates, it applies the equivalent of between 500-700kg N/ha on an area just 3m².
This is far in excess of plant N requirement and most of this ends up in our rivers. Managing N is a major issue for Irish farmers and Ecotain plantain offers a natural forage solution to excess N loss from urine.
Dilute
Ecotain has diuretic properties which increases urine volume and therefore reduces urine N concentration. When animals urinate more frequently it spreads the urine across a greater area, further reducing the N load.
Reduce
Typically, high N feeds lead to high N urine. However, Ecotain reduces the amount of N that goes into urine by diverting some dietary N to faeces, milk and muscle. When animals eat Ecotain they release less N into the environment.
Delay
The amount of N in a typical urine patch far exceeds what plants are able to utilise. Plant secondary compounds in Ecotain delay the conversion of urinary N from ammonium to nitrate in the soil. This keeps the urinary N in a more stable form and allows plants more time to utilise the N and reduce pollution.
Restrict
Plant secondary compounds released by the roots of Ecotain interact with the nitrification bacteria in the soil further delaying the conversion of ammonium to nitrate.
Production Benefits
- Increases forage supply during summer and autumn
- Aids sward recovery after dry spells
- Improves winter sward production
- Suitable to a wide range of soil types
- Persists 4 – 5 years
Plantain Meets Production Targets
Over the last few years the increasing use of multi-species swards has seen Irish farmers significantly reduce their N fertiliser bills, increase animal performance and enhance summer forage production. On some drier farms, multi-species swards have been the only grazable forage available during prolonged dry spells.
The inclusion of plantain and chicory in multi-species swards proves they are more than just weeds. In fact, these species may have far more to offer than we think. Take plantain, for example, a perennial forage herb with excellent DM production, high mineral content and the potential to reduce nitrate loss from grassland.
Animal Performance Benefits
- High mineral content forage (Zn, Cu, Se, Mg, Ca and K)
- High in protein
- Increase milk production in summer when grass quality declines
- Improves liveweight gain in sheep and cattle
- Ecotain is a variety of plantain like no other – it is an Environmental Plantain.