Ecotain®
the only plantain proven to reduce nitrogen leaching
Ecotain®
the only plantain proven to reduce nitrogen leaching
The science behind & on-farm benefits of using Ecotain® environmental plantain
Research has demonstrated that not all plantains (current cultivars or breeding lines) are capable of reducing nitrate leaching to the same degree as Ecotain® environmental plantain. Ecotain can dilute, reduce, delay, and restrict. In all other agronomic aspects, as well as environmental, Ecotain is an excellent example of a high quality, productive forage.
Watch Glenn Judson explain the science behind & on-farm benefits of using Ecotain.
Ecotain takes N mitigation to a whole new level.
By combining not one, but four modes of action that work together to mitigate N leaching from the urine patch, this system has the power to revolutionise how we farm and its impact on our surrounding environment. Here’s the science behind the power of four…
How it works
DILUTE
Ecotain environmental plantain increases the volume of urine animals produce from a similar amount of N ingested. This means the N being excreted is in a more dilute form, resulting in a reduced N load in the urine patch. Learn More
REDUCE
Ecotain reduces the amount of dietary N which is excreted in urine, compared with ryegrass. This reduces the amount of N released into the soil via the urine patch. Learn More
DELAY
In urine patches from animals grazing Ecotain, the conversion of ammonium to nitrate is delayed. Slower conversion allows plants a greater opportunity to uptake N, significantly reducing the potential for leaching. Learn More
RESTRICT
The presence of Ecotain plants in the soil reduces nitrate leaching by restricting the amount of leachable nitrogen in the soil. Learn More
With the potential to reduce N leaching from the urine patch by up to 89%*
Ecotain is a gamechanger when it comes to managing N.
Lysimeter Studies
The Power of 4
Ecotain is the only plantain scientifically proven to work using four mechanisms to dilute, reduce, delay and restrict N leaching.
When it comes to N leaching management Ecotain is four steps in the right direction. Reducing N leaching is one thing, but doing it without compromising production is another.
Ecotain is the only plantain that is capable of reducing nitrate leaching in four ways, so it's a superior product in that category. Being a quality bred plantain cultivar, Ecotain provides enhanced forage feed availability particularly in summer, kicking in when grass quality starts to drop off.
Stacking up the benefits
- Significant reduction in N leaching – up to 89% from the urine patch depending on sward blend and conditions
- Similar annual drymatter quantity and quality to ryegrass pasture
- Increases feed quality and/or supply during summer and autumn
- Improves speed of sward recovery after summer dry
- Improves cool season activity of pasture base
- Suitable as a 2 - 3 year crop option
- Positive impact on milk production when grass quality drops in summer.
As an industry, we’ve been searching for an N management solution to reduce nitrate leaching that not only protects the environment but also benefits the farmers that use it.
Ecotain Partnerships
With the goal of developing a forage-based product to reduce N leaching from livestock systems, the Callaghan-Funded Greener Pastures Project, led by Agricom, collaborated with Lincoln and Massey Universities, as well as Plant & Food Research to research and develop a highly effective and practical solution to N leaching for NZ farmers - Ecotain®
To know more about the science of the Ecotain & how it can fit your farm system, get in touch with your local Agricom rep.