Ribwort plantain

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Ribwort plantain

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Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 12 7:56 pm Post subject: Ribwort plantain

We have a 3 acre field that is used for sheep grazing appx 8 months of the year and left for a cut of hay the rest of the year. It is permanent pastureland, has a rich diversity of plants within it and makes superb meadow hay. However, this year ribwort plantain seems to have taken over.

We are just wondering whether this "invasion" will be to the detriment of other plants, including grass, and to future hay cuts. The hay is used for our sheep in the winter.

Sources suggest that this plant is palatable to sheep, is a good source of many minerals/elements and that sheep will graze it down to the ground. Will slight overgrazing control it? We only use chemicals on our land when we have to but will do so when necessary.

Any advice gratefully received.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 12 5:54 am Post subject:
A recent thread from someone with the same problem.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 12 5:59 am Post subject:
Can't get that link to work in the usual way. If you search for plantain you will find it.

Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 12 8:07 am Post subject:
Thanks, Tavascarow. I had missed this thread (and the link works perfectly).

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 12 9:35 am Post subject:

Mardu wrote:

Thanks, Tavascarow. I had missed this thread (and the link works perfectly).

The link fairies must have cast their spell.

AlexBy

Joined: 18 Sep 2011
Posts: 85

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 12 12:00 pm Post subject:
Let me know how you get on and what you decide to do please. Just of interest (wrt climate, geology, geography) where are you? I am 850 ft in the peninnes. Un improved (read very thin) soil, on mud stone, clay and millstone grit that is also quite wet.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46390
Location: yes

Posted: Fri Sep 21, 12 3:09 pm Post subject:
the seeds are very tasty with a high oil and protien content (biscuit al le Mears ) the mushed leaf is a good poultice for fresh wounds

Mardu

Joined: 20 May 2005
Posts: 67

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 3:22 pm Post subject:

Have been told (on another forum) that it may be thriving due to a lot of yellow rattle. The rattle is parasitic, mainly on grasses, and if it becomes too frequent, the susceptible plants become weak and plants which can tolerate it can become very dominant. Ribwort is one of those. Also, cutting hay late encourages rattle because (unlike most other grassland plants) it's an annual, and if you cut it well after the seed has set (usually July), more and more will grow each year. Too much rattle changes the balance of plants, but it also reduces the yield.

The above is true of our field - the amount of rattle has increased the last few years and the hay has been cut late.

I think we will not do anything this year - see if the sheep can graze it down and hope for better weather and an earlier harvest next year. Let nature take its course and hope it re-balances the varieties of plants.

AlexBy

Joined: 18 Sep 2011
Posts: 85

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 12 8:07 pm Post subject:
Sounds just like us. Yellow rattle and a couple of years when we had a very late harvest as the weather was so bad. The solution is of interest. Once it stops raining I might try some horrible chemicals (broadleaf) to see if it can reduce the rattle and plaintain

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