Plaintain

Plaintain

Early Settler brought Plantain to New Zealand. It is a low dwelling perennial plant which produces leafless flower stock in summer-autumn 
 
Plantago lanceolata,  longer, slender pointed ribbed leaves and a flowering stem. It is highly palatable to animals, providing a mineral-rich forage. It is used in pasture mixes. Don't be confused with  Plantago major that has wide rounded leaves, with a flowering spike covered with small seeds. Pastures with P. major is usually low-producing and is seen as a weed therefore not used in pastures production. 
 
Plantago lanceolata
Pros
    	
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    highly palatable to animals 
    	
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    establishes rapidly 
    	
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    is pest-tolerant
    	
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    has a high mineral content
    	
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     has a fibrous and coarse root system
    	
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    grows throughout New Zealand
    	
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    tolerance of hot summers and provides summer growth.
    	
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    grows on a range of soils, but it performs best on high-fertility soils that are free-draining soils
    	
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    sown into warm soils (10-12°C)
    	
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    plant no deeper than 10mm depth 
    	
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    enjoys pH 5.6-6.2
    	
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    plantain-based pastures are useful for reducing nitrate leaching 
    	
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    will last 2-3 years under dairy grazing
    	
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    can be grown in a pasture mix or as a special purpose crop
    	
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    establishes with best little competition from other plants for first three months.
    	
 
cons
    	
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    Weeds should be eliminated before sowing
    	
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    Avoid heavy clay soils that can waterlog 
    	
 
Pasture Mix
    	
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    the seed mix is 8-10kg/ha plantain with or without clover.
    	
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    A grass/clover/plantain mixed pasture/clover mix at 1-4kg/ha managed like a typical pasture