Effect of defoliation strategies on the productivity, population and morphology of plantain (Plantago lanceolata)

Abstract

This trial provided information about effects of defoliation frequency, defoliation intensity and winter management (grazing or rest) on the productivity, morphology and plant population of a 3-year-old plantain (Plantago lanceolata) stand. Plant population density declined drastically over time independently of grazing management, with the greatest decrease in summer. Winter grazing had a critical effect on the productivity and population remaining 6 months later. Frequent grazing during summer increased plantain contribution. Grazing intensity reduced crown weight and diameter of individual plants. Further studies are required to determine the interactions of defoliation management with pastures of different age including the natural reseeding as a mechanism to maintain plant recruitment. Keywords: defoliation, grazing, morphology, population

A review of the use of chicory, plantain, red clover and white clover in a sward mix for increased sheep and beef production

“…Within pure swards it is well established that grazing chicory or plantain during late autumn and winter has substantial negative effects on yield, plant density and crop persistence (Ayala et al 2011;Li et al 1997).…”

“…Chicory and plantain are both high yielding, summer active perennial herbs which can maintain high nutritive values during warm summer conditions (Lee et al 2015;Minneé et al 2013;Powell et al 2007). However, the persistence of both chicory and plantain are reduced markedly when they are grazed during winter (Ayala et al 2011;Li et al 1997), and therefore they are not particularly compatible with winter active grass species.…”

Understanding Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) responses to defoliation in Uruguay

“…A factorial (2 × 2) block design with three replicates was used to evaluate a combination of two defoliation intensities (3 or 10 cm post-grazing residual height, referred as severely (S) or lightly (L) grazed) and two frequencies of defoliation (each 21 or 42 days referred as frequent (F) or infrequent (I) grazing). During winter (June to early September) pasture was not grazed, based on a previous report (Ayala et al 2011) that described critical effects of winter grazing on productivity and population of a 3-year-old plantain stand. The grazing schedule resumed in early September and was followed until March.…”

“…While plantain is not commonly used in Uruguay, preliminary reports have demonstrated its potential as an alternative forage species (Barrios 2006). The study of defoliation strategies have been focused on a research program of INIA Uruguay determining the critical effects of winter grazing on plantain productivity and population (Ayala et al 2011). The objective of this trial was to provide additional information about the effect of defoliation intensity and frequency on productivity and plant population changes of plantain pasture.…”

Establishment year productivity, botanical composition and nutritive value of grass/lucerne/plantain dairy pasture mixtures

“…Plantain contributed between 35-70% of the +P swards from autumn to late spring of 2016, but had diminished to <20% by autumn 2017. While this proportion can be expected to increase again during the second winterspring (Woodward et al 2013), a longer-term pattern of decline for plantain has been observed elsewhere under rotational winter cutting/grazing of monocultures (Sanderson et al 2003;Ayala et al 2011), leading Cranston et al (2015) to suggest that it is not compatible with winter-active grasses.…”