Abstract
ABSTRACT This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024). Key objectives were to evaluate herbage yield, growth dynamics, utilisation, botanical composition, forage quality and root morphology. Total seasonal yield PRG and PRG‐PL were 11,683 and 11,766 kg DM ha −1 , respectively. The PRG‐PL swards exhibited greater herbage utilisation (80.5% vs. 76.7%). Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass. Botanical composition remained consistent across years, with mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards averaging ~29% plantain. Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers. Plate metre calibration showed no significant difference ( p > 0.05) between sward types, validating the use of a common equation. Notably, mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards ( p < 0.05 ) showed increased growth during periods of low rainfall, suggesting enhanced drought resilience. These findings indicate that incorporating plantain into perennial ryegrass swards can enhance utilisation efficiency and potentially improve resilience under variable climatic conditions without compromising annual productivity. This research provides robust, year‐on‐year data supporting the agronomic viability of moderate plantain inclusion in temperate grazing systems.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record, shown for indexing and research. Copyright remains with the authors or the publisher. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 18
Claim · model-written summary
Perennial ryegrass sward total seasonal yield was 11,683 kg DM/ha
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrass
Lolium perennee1 - Material
- PRGe2
- Outcome
- Total seasonal yielde2
- Value
- 11,683e2
- Setting
- Northern Irelande1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e2“Total seasonal yield PRG and PRG‐PL were 11,683 and 11,766 kg DM ha −1 , respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain sward total seasonal yield was 11,766 kg DM/ha
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Material
- PRG‐PLe2
- Outcome
- Total seasonal yielde2
- Value
- 11,766e2
- Setting
- Northern Irelande1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e2“Total seasonal yield PRG and PRG‐PL were 11,683 and 11,766 kg DM ha −1 , respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards showed greater herbage utilisation than PRG swards
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- PRG‐PL swardse3
- Outcome
- herbage utilisatione3
- Direction
- greatere3
- Value
- 80.5% vs. 76.7%e3
- Comparator
- PRGe2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e2“Total seasonal yield PRG and PRG‐PL were 11,683 and 11,766 kg DM ha −1 , respectively.”
e3“The PRG‐PL swards exhibited greater herbage utilisation (80.5% vs. 76.7%).”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- ashe4
- Direction
- highere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had higher acid detergent fibre than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- acid detergent fibree4
- Direction
- highere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had lower neutral detergent fibre than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- neutral detergent fibree4
- Direction
- lowere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had lower water-soluble carbohydrates than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- water‐soluble carbohydratese4
- Direction
- lowere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had lower digestibility than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- digestibilitye4
- Direction
- lowere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards had lower gross energy than perennial ryegrass
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse4
- Outcome
- gross energye4
- Direction
- lowere4
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrasse4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e4“Herbage quality analyses showed mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards had higher ash ( p < 0.001) and acid detergent fibre ( p < 0.01), but lower neutral detergent fibre ( p < 0.001), water‐soluble carbohydrates ( p < 0.001), digestibility ( p < 0.001) and gross energy ( p < 0.001) compared to perennial ryegrass.”
Claim · model-written summary
Botanical composition of ryegrass–plantain swards averaged about 29% plantain across years
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e5“Botanical composition remained consistent across years, with mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards averaging ~29% plantain.”
Claim · model-written summary
Perennial ryegrass swards had greater fine root development than ryegrass–plantain swards to 30 cm depth
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Organ / stage
- rootse6
- Treatment
- perennial ryegrass swardse6
- Outcome
- fine root developmente6
- Direction
- greatere6
- Qualifier
- to 30 cm soil depthe6
- Comparator
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swarde6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e6“Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Perennial ryegrass swards had greater root biomass than ryegrass–plantain swards to 30 cm depth
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Organ / stage
- rootse6
- Treatment
- perennial ryegrass swardse6
- Outcome
- biomasse6
- Direction
- greatere6
- Qualifier
- to 30 cm soil depthe6
- Comparator
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swarde6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e6“Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Perennial ryegrass swards had greater root surface area than ryegrass–plantain swards to 30 cm depth
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Organ / stage
- rootse6
- Treatment
- perennial ryegrass swardse6
- Outcome
- surface areae6
- Direction
- greatere6
- Qualifier
- to 30 cm soil depthe6
- Comparator
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swarde6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e6“Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number than perennial ryegrass roots
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Organ / stage
- rootse6
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swarde6
- Outcome
- in numbere6
- Direction
- fewere6
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrass swardse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e6“Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain sward roots had slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers than perennial ryegrass roots
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Organ / stage
- rootse6
- Treatment
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swarde6
- Outcome
- diameterse6
- Direction
- thickere6
- Qualifier
- in deeper layerse6
- Comparator
- perennial ryegrass swardse6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e6“Root assessments revealed perennial ryegrass swards had significantly greater fine root development ( p < 0.001), biomass ( p < 0.001) and surface area ( p < 0.001) to 30 cm soil depth, whilst mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain sward roots were fewer in number but exhibited slightly thicker diameters in deeper layers.”
Claim · model-written summary
Plate metre calibration showed no significant difference between sward types
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Outcome
- Plate metre calibratione7
- Value
- p > 0.05e7
- Comparator
- sward typese7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e7“Plate metre calibration showed no significant difference ( p > 0.05) between sward types, validating the use of a common equation.”
Claim · model-written summary
Ryegrass–plantain swards increased growth during periods of low rainfall
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee1
- Material
- mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swardse7
- Treatment
- periods of low rainfalle7
- Outcome
- growthe7
- Direction
- increasede7
- Qualifier
- suggesting enhanced drought resiliencee7
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e7“Notably, mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards ( p < 0.05 ) showed increased growth during periods of low rainfall, suggesting enhanced drought resilience.”
Claim · model-written summary
Incorporating plantain into perennial ryegrass swards is recommended to enhance utilisation efficiency
- Taxon
- perennial ryegrassLolium perennee7
- Outcome
- incorporating plantain into perennial ryegrass swardse7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“This study investigated the agronomic performance and root characteristics of perennial ryegrass and mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards under intensive rotational grazing by dairy cows in Northern Ireland over two full grazing seasons (2023–2024)”
e7“These findings indicate that incorporating plantain into perennial ryegrass swards can enhance utilisation efficiency and potentially improve resilience under variable climatic conditions without compromising annual productivity.”
The same questions in other papers
rainfall · growth · Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass)Positive and negative results
1 paper in the same direction as this paper · 2 in the opposite direction
- negative
- negative
- positive
Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.