The effect of plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) in pasture swards on gaseous nitrogen emissions from nitrogen-enriched urine patches

Aims Plantain has been shown to possess biological nitrification inhibiting (BNI) activity, which can reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from ruminant urine patches. However, the effectiveness of plantain in mitigating these emissions remains unclear. Methods In this study, the N-15 flux method was employed to investigate the relationship between different plantain proportions in pasture sward and gaseous nitrogen (N) ((N2O and dinitrogen (N-2)) loss following dairy cow urine deposition (660 kg N ha(-1)) on the Allophanic and Gley soils. Results The findings indicate that the presence of plantain reduced cumulative N2O emissions after urine deposition, but there was no direct correlation between the nominal sowing rate and its mitigation effectiveness. However, in the Allophanic soil, there was a reduction in cumulative N2O emissions with an increase in the proportion of plantain in the dry matter. Plantain presence increased total N-2 emissions in both soil types, possibly due to its BNI function, which would retain mineral N in the soil for an extended period, providing substrate for complete denitrification. The total N-2 emissions from the Allophanic soil with plantain presence were higher compared to those from the Gley soil. Conclusion This study revealed the role of soil type in the effect of plantain on N2O and N-2 emissions from urine patches. The increase of proportion of plantain in the pasture dry matter in the Allophanic soil decreased cumulative N2O emissions, while no effect of plantain proportion was observed in the Gley soil.