Canterbury plantain cuts nitrate leaching

Glen Judson, of Agricom, explains the benefits of introducing environmental plantain to the field day crowd. In the background are Rhys Roberts (left), head of operations for Align Farms, and Matt Bell, farm manager of Align Longfield. Photo: Maureen Bishop

The benefits of a new environmental plantain developed to reduce nitrate leaching were explained at a field day in Mid Canterbury last week.

Glen Judson, of Agricom, explained how the plantain Ecotain worked to the crowd who attended a field day staged by MHV Water Ltd and Align Farms near Hinds.

The plant increased the amount of urine animals produced, which meant the nitrogen being excreted was more diluted, reducing the nitrate load in the urine patch, he said.

It reduced the amount of dietary nitrogen in urine compared with ryegrass and animals grazing Ecotain took longer to convert ammonium to nitrate. Slower conversion allowed plants a great opportunity to take up the nitrogen, reducing the potential for leaching.

Ecotain plants reduced nitrification, possibly through the effect of a biological nitrification inhibitor.

While Ecotain was not recognised by the Overseer software programme, he was hopeful it would be within the next two years, Mr Judson said.

Other speakers at the field day included Andrew Curtis, the chief executive of Irrigation NZ, who spoke on soil moisture monitoring and Alison van Polanen, director of Enviro Plan, who outlined what auditors of farm management plans were looking for.