Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches
Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) is recognised for its ability to improve summer feed productivity as well as mitigate nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions from grazed pastoral soils. This study aims to determine the proportion of plantain required in perennial ry...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1447 |
| _version_ | 1797596557749518336 |
|---|---|
| author | Chi Vi Peter D. Kemp Surinder Saggar Soledad Navarrete David J. Horne |
| author_facet | Chi Vi Peter D. Kemp Surinder Saggar Soledad Navarrete David J. Horne |
| author_sort | Chi Vi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) is recognised for its ability to improve summer feed productivity as well as mitigate nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions from grazed pastoral soils. This study aims to determine the proportion of plantain required in perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.) and white clover (<i>Trifolium repens</i> L.), or RWC, mixed swards to maintain yield stability and to quantify N<sub>2</sub>O emission reductions. The botanical composition was monitored when plantain was sown at different rates of 0%, 30%, 50% and 70% in RWC pastures under grazing by dairy cows over 2 grazing years. Urine from cows grazing RWC (6.15 g N L<sup>−1</sup>), 30% (5.40 g N L<sup>−1</sup>) and 50% (4.40 g N L<sup>−1</sup>) plantain mixed pastures was used to measure N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (<i>n</i> = 5) from the pastures of their origin and to assess the impact of the plantain rhizosphere on N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by applying the RWC urine to the 50% plantain mixed pasture, and vice versa, in late summer–autumn using the static chambers technique. After declining in spring, the plantain content recovered in early autumn and reached a peak of 40% in the 30% plantain mixed pasture and around 50% in the 50% and 70% plantain mixed pastures in winter. A lower N content in urine, and therefore a lower urine N-loading rate from cows grazing in the 50% plantain mixed pasture, resulted in 39% lower total N<sub>2</sub>O emissions compared to RWC urine treatment. In conclusion, 30% to 50% plantain in mixed pastures was stable throughout the 2 years, and it not only reduced the urinary N concentration in grazing cattle but also contributed to reduced N<sub>2</sub>O EFs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:53:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c051e7f7f14644c282fcfac6c214d389 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:53:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c051e7f7f14644c282fcfac6c214d3892023-11-18T08:53:23ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952023-05-01136144710.3390/agronomy13061447Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine PatchesChi Vi0Peter D. Kemp1Surinder Saggar2Soledad Navarrete3David J. Horne4School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandManaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Riddet Road, Massey University Campus, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandSchool of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New ZealandPlantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) is recognised for its ability to improve summer feed productivity as well as mitigate nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions from grazed pastoral soils. This study aims to determine the proportion of plantain required in perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.) and white clover (<i>Trifolium repens</i> L.), or RWC, mixed swards to maintain yield stability and to quantify N<sub>2</sub>O emission reductions. The botanical composition was monitored when plantain was sown at different rates of 0%, 30%, 50% and 70% in RWC pastures under grazing by dairy cows over 2 grazing years. Urine from cows grazing RWC (6.15 g N L<sup>−1</sup>), 30% (5.40 g N L<sup>−1</sup>) and 50% (4.40 g N L<sup>−1</sup>) plantain mixed pastures was used to measure N<sub>2</sub>O emissions (<i>n</i> = 5) from the pastures of their origin and to assess the impact of the plantain rhizosphere on N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by applying the RWC urine to the 50% plantain mixed pasture, and vice versa, in late summer–autumn using the static chambers technique. After declining in spring, the plantain content recovered in early autumn and reached a peak of 40% in the 30% plantain mixed pasture and around 50% in the 50% and 70% plantain mixed pastures in winter. A lower N content in urine, and therefore a lower urine N-loading rate from cows grazing in the 50% plantain mixed pasture, resulted in 39% lower total N<sub>2</sub>O emissions compared to RWC urine treatment. In conclusion, 30% to 50% plantain in mixed pastures was stable throughout the 2 years, and it not only reduced the urinary N concentration in grazing cattle but also contributed to reduced N<sub>2</sub>O EFs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1447plantainryegrass–white cloversummer feed qualityurine Nnitrous oxide |
| spellingShingle | Chi Vi Peter D. Kemp Surinder Saggar Soledad Navarrete David J. Horne Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches Agronomy plantain ryegrass–white clover summer feed quality urine N nitrous oxide |
| title | Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches |
| title_full | Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches |
| title_fullStr | Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches |
| title_short | Effective Proportion of Plantain (<i>Plantago lanceolata</i> L.) in Mixed Pastures for Botanical Stability and Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Cow Urine Patches |
| title_sort | effective proportion of plantain i plantago lanceolata i l in mixed pastures for botanical stability and mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from cow urine patches |
| topic | plantain ryegrass–white clover summer feed quality urine N nitrous oxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/6/1447 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chivi effectiveproportionofplantainiplantagolanceolatailinmixedpasturesforbotanicalstabilityandmitigatingnitrousoxideemissionsfromcowurinepatches AT peterdkemp effectiveproportionofplantainiplantagolanceolatailinmixedpasturesforbotanicalstabilityandmitigatingnitrousoxideemissionsfromcowurinepatches AT surindersaggar effectiveproportionofplantainiplantagolanceolatailinmixedpasturesforbotanicalstabilityandmitigatingnitrousoxideemissionsfromcowurinepatches AT soledadnavarrete effectiveproportionofplantainiplantagolanceolatailinmixedpasturesforbotanicalstabilityandmitigatingnitrousoxideemissionsfromcowurinepatches AT davidjhorne effectiveproportionofplantainiplantagolanceolatailinmixedpasturesforbotanicalstabilityandmitigatingnitrousoxideemissionsfromcowurinepatches |