Comment on 'An examination of the ability of plantain (Plantain lanceolata L.) to mitigate nitrogen leaching from pasture systems'
2024
Fransen, Kate E | Gard, Sarah M | Pinxterhuis, Ina | Minnee, Elena MK | Peterson, Michelle E | Mudge, Paul | Woods, Roshean R | Al-Marashdeh, Omar | Horne, David | Beukes, Pierre C | Dodd, Mike | Clague, Juliet
In their review: An examination of the ability of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) to mitigate nitrogen leaching from pasture systems, Eady et al. (2024) dispute both the historic estimates of typical urine patch nitrogen (N) load and leaching and the evidence for the N leaching reduction mechanisms of plantain; and question the recommended levels of plantain required to achieve N leaching reduction. We reject the suggestion that the urine patch has little influence on N leaching, and that average annual N leaching from dairy farms is 6 kg N/ha. We agree that the low dry matter content of plantain is the dominant and best documented effect of plantain on urine N dilution. We reject that there is no evidence for the effect of plantain on nitrogen partitioning to urine, and on potential nitrification rate in the urine patch. We point to empirical evidence of statistically significant reductions in nitrate leaching from plantain at paddock scale, at levels as low as 21% plantain of dry matter eaten. Current research will improve understanding of the mechanisms and magnitude of the effect of plantain on N loss, paving the way for recognition of other forage-based N loss reduction options, and ongoing development of mechanistic models that are adaptable to other forages.
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