Captain CSP

Captain cool season plantain (CSP) has significantly more growth than other plantains during the cool season, when feed is most valuable in farm systems. It also reduces nitrogen leaching compared to diploid ryegrass.

Outstanding cool season growth

Captain CSP yields significantly more through the cool season period as shown in the graph below. Plantains vary hugely in winter growth, as is clearly visible in the photo at the bottom of this page.

Cool season DM yield data combined from three one year dryland Canterbury trials sown between 2013 – 2018*

*Cool season yield is a total of autumn, winter & early spring periods. LSD (5%) lettering given on yield bars, cultivars with the same letter are not significantly different. 1 Provisional rating, cultivar has only been in one trial.

Reduced N Leaching

Studies show plantain can mitigate nitrogen leaching compared to diploid ryegrass, primarily because its higher water content increases animal water intake, and so dilutes urine. Captain’s superior cool season growth potentially increases N-mitigation, as nitrogen mainly leaches when soils are wet in late autumn to early spring.

Captainin trial.jpg — *Captain CSP (centre) showing its significant cool season yield advantage over other cultivars on 30 July at Courtenay 190m ASL.*

High total DM yield

Captain CSP produces strongly across the other seasons too. It's deep rooting, with high summer yield providing additional protein and feed quality over the warmer months, particularly in summer dry areas.

Animal performance

Plantain is easily digestible, improving animal appetite especially in dry summers when grass quality is low.

Plant type

Captain CSP is a distinctive narrow-leaved plant with upright growth habit for high utilisation. It has a deep, coarse root system, and good compatibility with other species. It persists well, and can last three years with good management.

Sheep, beef, deer systems

Captain CSP can be used as a high LWG finishing crop, for example mixed with red, white, and annual clovers. Here the annual clovers (Persian, arrowleaf) provide most of the legume through the first year, with red and white clovers providing it after that.

Dairy systems

Captain CSP can be used as a summer crop, or sown as part of a pasture mix to increase summer feed quality in dryland situations. Captain can also be used as part of a specialist high-yielding, quality 2-3 year pasture, with Shogun NEA12 hybrid ryegrass and Kotuku white clover.

Sowing Captain

Captain CSP is owned & marketed by Barenbrug, & protected under the NZ Plant Variety Rights Act