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WATER QUALITY
(a) Nutrient Management Plan (Tier 2)
Rationale for Intervention
The losses of nutrients, especially nitrates and phosphates, to the water environment, and especially by run-off to watercourses or leaching to groundwater, are a major threat to good water quality. The nutrients may derive from either organic or inorganic sources. Planning and management of nutrients are key to minimising pollution and the associated damage to wildlife while enabling farmers to farm effectively and efficiently.
Objectives
Decrease diffuse pollution through planning and management measures to optimise the amount of nutrients applied to land by matching inorganic and organic fertiliser (including slurry) to crop requirements.
Scope and actions
- Calculate nutrient requirements of crops in selected field(s) eg. nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and trace elements. This should take account of the soil analysis results, nutrients available from previous inputs and cropping history;
- For N, follow the Scottish Agricultural College ( SAC) recommendations in the Technical Note T516 "Nitrogen recommendations for Cereals, Oilseed Rape and Potatoes". This also contains details on the availability of nitrogen from the application of livestock manure;
- For P and K follow SAC Technical Note T308 "Removal by crops and P, K balance sheets";
- Keep records of the quantities of mineral fertiliser, farmyard manure and slurry applied to the field and when you applied it. This should take account of the levels of N, P and K contained in organic manures. Tables of typical values for total N, P and K (and potentially available P and K) in manure and slurry are available in the 4-Point Plan and the PEPFAA Code:
- Keep records of no-spread zones. Further guidance provided in the 4-Point Plan (Ref: www.sac.ac.uk/4pp);
- Apply fertiliser at a time which will promote maximum nutrient uptake by the crop.
- If there is a watercourse (including ditches), spring or borehole in the field on which the measure is to be undertaken suitable protective measures must be used.
Amounts of support
The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income forgone from the commitment made.
Payment rate £2.70/ha
(b) Soil and Water Management Programme (Tier 3)
Rationale for Intervention
Where risks to farm soils or to the water environment have been identified, operations should be carried out to protect the soils and the water environment. This may include the prevention or mitigation of soil erosion or of compaction and the prevention of water pollution by soil, manures or other nutrients.
Objectives
A soil and water management plan, produced as a result of a self audit, will assess the risks to the soils on the farm from erosion, compaction, structural degradation, loss of organic matter and contamination. Management practices and measures designed to address these risks will be implemented.
Scope and actions
The measure contains two options, which may be used separately or together:
- Option 1: The beneficiary will be required to draw up a soil and water management programme in line with the Farm Soils Plan (2005) published by the Scottish Executive in association with other organisations. The programme will assess the risks to the soils on the farm from erosion, compaction, structural degradation, loss of organic matter and contamination, and it will include measures designed to address these risks. The programme will identify both RDC options and other site specific measures which are not covered by the RDC options.
The programme will deliver benefits over and above those required by GAEC and will thereby facilitate compliance with the Nitrates Directive and with the Water Framework Directive as appropriate.
- Option 2: The measures identified in the programme which are not covered by other RDC options will be carried out over a period of 5 years to protect and enhance soils on the farm or the waters draining from the farm.
Description and justification of the different types of commitments, based on their expected environmental impact in relation to environmental needs and priorities
At EU Level the EU Soil Thematic Strategy has recently been proposed. As part of the Soil Framework Directive, Member States will be required to take systematic approach to identifying and combating soil degradation, and taking precautionary measures and integrating soil protection into other policies. The Commission identified Rural Development as one of the key vehicles to build in soil protection measures in this regard.
At a Scottish Level, the previous Minister for Environment and Rural Development announced the development of a Scottish Soil Strategy which will aim to increase the awareness of soil protection, and to mainstream soil protection into relevant policy initiatives and measures.
As part of Scotland's commitment to protection of the water environment through fulfilling the environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive ( WFD). To mitigate water pollution, ensure soil protection and thus contribute to public health and well-being.
Amounts of support
Option 1. Provided the audit has been carried out and a programme produced to a satisfactory standard and the potential beneficiary submits a valid RDC application:
i) If the audit was prepared by a professional adviser, 50% of the cost up to a maximum payment of £300 will be paid.
ii) If the potential beneficiary carries out the audit rather than employing an adviser, or the farm has already been audited under another scheme a fixed sum of £150 will be paid in recognition of the time involved and cost of conversion.
Option 2. Funding will be a proportion of the costs up to a maximum £30/ha per annum.
(c) Arable reversion to grassland/unfertilised grassland (Tier 3)
Rationale for intervention
There are only small losses of nitrate in drainage waters from arable reversion grassland, and the permanent vegetation cover minimises the erosion of soil particles and loss of associated phosphate in surface run-off.
Low inputs will mean that high levels of nitrogen do not accumulate in the soil, and uptake by the continuous vegetative cover and immobilisation into accumulating soil organic matter will provide a sink for the nitrogen that is available. Changing from intensive arable agriculture to extensive grassland is therefore expected to markedly reduce nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, phosphate losses. In most cases, losses of nitrate in drainage water will respond rapidly to the change of land use. However, where previous intensive fertiliser use has raised soil P contents, significant reductions in the leaching of soluble phosphate are unlikely to be achieved in the short term, because there are only low off-takes of nutrients from extensive systems; elevated levels of phosphate will continue to be recycled through the soil. The more immediate effect of this measure will be to reduce phosphate losses in surface run-off, provided that the grassland is not poached. The change to soil with a permanent vegetative cover will reduce soil erosion and the transport of sediment and associated phosphate to watercourses.
Objectives
The aim of the measure is to reduce diffuse pollution, reduce soil erosion and associated nutrient loss in run-off and reduce emissions of nitrous oxide and ammonia by changing land previously in arable production to permanent grassland, either ungrazed or with low stocking rates and with zero or low fertiliser input.
Scope and actions
Support for reducing losses of N and P by changing the land use from arable cropping to permanent grassland with low stocking rates and with zero or low fertiliser input.
The measure is applicable to all forms of arable farmland but is potentially most suited to marginal arable land that was historically kept as grazing land. Benefits will be greatest on fine textured soils that are most prone to erosion.
It may be particularly suited to areas where the converted land would have amenity or conservation value.
Beneficiaries must carry out the following:
- Cultivate and establish a permanent grass sward
- Only apply sufficient fertiliser initially to establish the grass sward.
Once the sward is established:
- Control grazing to limit poaching and avoid damage to river and loch banks.
- Do not apply lime or fertilisers, including slurry or farmyard manure.
- Do not apply pesticides unless with the prior approval of Scottish Ministers.
- Control statutory weeds, giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed (see control of invasive/non-native species measure).
- Do not cultivate.
- Do not clear existing drains or cut new drains except with prior written permission of Scottish Ministers.
Description and justification of the different types of commitments, based on their expected environmental impact in relation to environmental needs and priorities
Reduce losses of nitrogen and phosphate by changing the land use from arable cropping to permanent grassland, either ungrazed or with low stocking rates and with zero or low fertiliser input.
There are only small losses of nitrate in drainage waters from arable reversion grassland and the permanent vegetation cover minimises the erosion of soil particles and loss of associated phosphate in surface run-off.
Effectiveness:
Nitrogen: Very effective. Ungrazed grassland reduces N losses by over 95%. Annual losses can be about 2 kg N/ha of converted land, assuming a baseline leaching loss of 40-50 kg N/ha. For extensive grazing, losses are 20 kg N/ha per year.
Phosphate: A study in England, PE0203 Measure 14 'Convert arable to beef and sheep', was used. It was noted that the total phosphorus loss from all-arable land is some 3.8 kg/ha/year, whereas that from beef /sheep land is 1.6 kg TP/ha/year. However, this is more indicative of the long-term reduction, after a run-down of soil P contents over several years. For the short-term, a more valid comparison may be with intensive grassland where there will be high soil P contents. This suggests a smaller reduction.
Amounts of support
The payment rate has been calculated on the basis of additional cost and income foregone from the commitment made. Hectarage limits apply.
Payment Rate: £250 per hectare. This includes the cost of establishing the grass sward.
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