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NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN (Land Managers Options and Rural Priorities)
Article 20(a)(iv)
Measure Code (114)
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. Since a manure and fertiliser plan is a requirement in nitrate vulnerable zones, payment will not be made in respect of land in the NVZs. Payment is available only for arable land or improved grassland.
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
Applicants will have to carry out the following activities:
- Calculate nutrient requirements of crops in selected field(s) e.g. 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 it was applied. 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. The details of the protective measures including any maps should be retained by the applicant.
Type of Investments
Support will be available for the cost of an adviser to complete a plan on behalf of the applicant. Applicants will have to provide a receipted invoice with details of activities carried out, the supplier's details and the total cost.
If the beneficiary carries out the audit rather than employ an adviser, a fixed sum of €219 will be paid in recognition of the time involved.
Amounts of support
Payment rate 40 % of Actual Costs up to a Maximum of €438
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