Including plantain in the diet of dairy livestock reduces nitrate leaching.

The study was conducted as part of the DairyNZ "Plantain Potency and Practice" program at the Lincoln University dairy farm. Scientists compared the performance of plots with ryegrass and white clover, some of which were oversown with Ecotain plantain. The results showed that with plantain content in the pasture dry matter at a level of 17%, annual nitrate leaching was reduced from 18 kg/ha to 12 kg/ha.

Senior project manager Kate Franssen noted that herd productivity remained stable. The reduction in nitrate levels proved to be twice as high as the indicators predicted by current models. The effect is achieved through the high moisture content of the plant, which dilutes the urine of livestock animals, as well as specific properties of the plantain composition that promote the redirection of nitrogen into milk and feces instead of urine. Researchers are also studying the plant's impact on drainage and nitrogen cycling in the soil, with plans to incorporate the data into models, including Overseer, by 2028.

Practical trials on commercial farms have shown that maintaining the necessary plantain share of 10–15% requires annual sowing of seed. The costs for these activities are estimated at 46 dollars per hectare per year. According to DairyNZ estimates, achieving similar environmental outcomes without using plantain would have required severe restrictions on the application of nitrogen fertilizer, a reduction in stocking rates, or significant investments in infrastructure, which would have negatively affected the profitability of farming operations.

To date, the role of plantain in reducing nitrogen leaching has already been recognized by a number of regional regulatory bodies. Furthermore, studies in New Zealand and Ireland indicate the potential of this crop in reducing methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The "Plantain Potency and Practice" program, launched in 2021, is implemented with the support of the Ministry for Primary Industries, DairyNZ, PGG Wrightson Seeds, and Fonterra in collaboration with a number of universities and scientific institutes.