Plantain lowers emissions
Using plant species such as plantain in grazed pastures could help lower a farm’s greenhouse gas emissions, AgResearch scientists have found.
The scientists set out to compare nitrous oxide emissions from soils containing different types of forage – perennial ryegrass, white clover, plantain and lucerne over different seasons at a Waikato dairy farm.
Agricultural soils, and the urine deposited by grazing animals, are the main source of global nitrous oxide emissions and are a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human influence.
‘‘A significant finding from this study was that in autumn and winter, nitrous oxide emissions were 39-74 per cent less where plantain was planted, compared to perennial ryegrass,’’ senior scientist Dr Jiafa Luo said.
‘‘Lucerne also saw lower emissions compared to the ryegrass in winter and autumn, but smaller reductions than in the case of the plantain.
‘‘In summer, we found emissions from the plantain and lucerne were actually higher than the ryegrass, which is something that needs to be explored further.’’
Luo said previous studies showed plantain could reduce the amount of nitrogen excreted in the animals’ urine, however in this latest study, the same urine type (from animals fed ryegrass and white clover) was applied to all of the plant types tested.
‘‘So other factors may be involved, and one may be that plantain releases biological nitrification inhibitors into the soil which reduce the nitrous oxide emissions.’’
‘‘What this research tells us is that incorporating plantain into grazed pastures could be an approach to reducing emissions.’’