Water Protection: Rule 1 – Manures and Fertilisers

Monday 9th April 2018 in Uncategorised

Application of organic manures and manufactured fertilisers to cultivated land must be planned to meet and not exceed soil and crop needs.

Nutrient planning must be based on the results of testing for phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, pH and nitrogen levels in the soil, which must be done at least every five years. Soil nitrogen levels can be assessed using the soil nitrogen supply using RB209 methodology instead of testing the soil.

Manure and fertiliser spreading must take into account where there is a significant risk of pollution, taking into account the following factors:

• the slope of the agricultural land, especially if the slope is greater than 12 degrees
• any ground cover
• the proximity to inland fresh waters and coastal waters
• the proximity to wetlands
• the weather conditions and weather forecasts
• the soil type and condition
• the presence and condition of agricultural land drains