Following a nutrient management plan will ensure efficient use of fertilisers and organic manures and can:
An NVZ is defined by Welsh Government as an area of land draining into ground or surface waters that are currently high in nitrate, or may become so if appropriate actions are not taken. Farms within an NVZ will be restricted with regard to how much nitrogen fertiliser can be applied to the land to limit the potential for loss to the wider environment.
Modern methods of agricultural production rely on the addition of nutrients in the form of organic or manufactured fertiliser to sustain production levels.
The EC Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) was created to reduce water pollution from agricultural sources. The Directive is delivered in Wales through the Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013, which aims to limit the potential detriment to the waters from agricultural activity through the identification of potentially susceptible areas known as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs).
It is good practice for all liquid organic materials to be spread close to the ground using inverted splash plate spreaders, this is compulsory in an NVZ.
Applying liquid organic materials using trailing hose, trailing shoe or shallow injection equipment will allow even application, minimise ammonia loss and reduce crop/sward contamination compared with conventional surface broadcast techniques.
Match application widths to ensure even application. Avoid spillages while you are filling and moving equipment around the farm. Spillages on the road may be an offence and runoff entering surface water via highway drainage is a key risk.
If you use a broadcast technique (splash plate) then use a low trajectory and large droplet system.
Liquid organic manures should be incorporated into bare land or stubble as soon as possible to reduce odour, ammonia loss and the risk of runoff.
Solid manure should also be incorporated to bare land or stubble as soon as possible, aiming to complete the work within 24 hours.
Incorporating slurry and solid manure by ploughing is more effective at reducing odour and ammonia emissions than other techniques such as discs or tined equipment.
There are many organizations offering advice but the key principles are...
SourceOn a farm map draw in the different areas using a code:
*Silage fields: 1, 2, or 3 crops taken
After cut application
*Grazing fields have different needs
Spreading rates – It is good practice not to spread more than 50m3/ ha (4500 gallons/acre) of slurry in one dose because of the risk of runoff to a watercourse, or losses into groundwater.
When the soil is saturated at field capacity you should avoid spreading.
Excessively high spreading rates can also lead to management problems including poor grass silage quality, lodging in cereals and health problems in grazed stock.
Good storage capacity offers the chance to spread manure at the correct, effective times of the year.
Work out your capacity in cubic meters and it ideally should hold up to 5 months production.
The capacity needs usually are dependent on the time of year.
For a farm of your choice create a Farm Nutrient plan.
As agriculture units become larger and their waste production increase and the cost of artificial fertilizers increases, farm nutrient planning will become more important.
It is an essential component of good agricultural practice to reduce environmental pollution.