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Plantain Cuts Nitrate Leaching Without Sacrificing Milk | Auckland News
A four-year Lincoln University study proves plantain in pastures slashes nitrate leaching by 33% without cutting milk production—offering farmers a win-win for the environment and profits. With just 17% plantain, nitrate runoff dropped from 18 to 12 kg/hectare, outperforming models that only considered urine dilution. Plantain’s high water content and nutrient shift reduce nitrogen in urine, plus soil interactions add extra benefits. Even at 10–15% coverage, results held steady. At $46/hectare, it’s affordable and already recognized in regulations. Researchers are now exploring if plantain…
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