Level II Agricultural Business Operations

Nutrients In

Nutrients Out

Nitrogen (N) – most important for plant growth

Phosphorus (P) – in the form of Phosphate (P2O5)

Potassium (K) – in the form of Potash (K2O)

Other nutrients are Sulphur (S), Magnesium (Mg) and Calcium (Ca)

Provides information about pH, P, K

Soil sample every 4-5 years

Soil sample after 3 months from application of slurry, manure, fertiliser, lime

Correct sampling technique required

Mineral soils pH 6.0 – 6.5 Peaty soils pH 5.6

Benefits of Optimum pH / Liming

Correct pH

Nutrients in soil more available

Nutrients in fertiliser more available

Needed for ryegrass/clover

Encourage earthworms

Improves soil structure

Less weeds

Soil pH  

Ground Limestone/Magnesium Limestone

Granulated Lime

pH 5.7 kg/acre required

1000 400

Cost/acre £20£45 +

application

pH 5.2 kg/acre required

2000 800

Cost/acre £40£90 +

application

Index Description

0 Deficient

1 OK for extensive

2 Optimum for grazing or silage.

3 High

>4 Excessive

Index Description

0 Deficient

1 Low

2- Optimum for grazing or silage.

2+ High

3 & above Excessive

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31% of samples below index 2 for P

44% of samples below index 2- for K

64% of samples below 6.0 for pH

Only 18% are optimum for P, K and pH

Getting the balance right!

Nutrients In

Nutrients Out

4.5 m³ (1000 gallons) of dairy cow slurry applied in

the spring supplies:

5 kg (10 units) Nitrogen (N)

5.5 kg (11 units) Phosphate (P2O5)

14 kg (28 units) Potash (K2O)

Availability of Nitrogen decreases as season progresses

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When – 1st February – 15th October in suitable weather & ground conditions

Aim to apply slurry & manure in the sameconditions and weather as when applying

bagged fertiliser. Leave 3-4 days after applyingslurry before applying bagged fertiliser – N loss

minimised .

Where – 10m from water course, 20m from lakes, 50m spring, well or borehole & 250m public water supply

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Inverted splashplate Trailing shoe

Better N utilisation

Produces higher grass yields

◦ Trailing Shoe + 24%

◦ Band Spreading + 16%

Less grass contamination

Slurry spreading up to 4 weeks after cutting

Can spread within 3m of watercourse rather than

10m

Nutrients In

Nutrients Out

Getting The Balance Right

A 50 kg bag of 20:10:10fertiliser contains:-

20 % Nitrogen (N) - 10 kg (20 units)

10% Phosphate (P2O5) –5 kg (10 units)

10% Potash (K2O) - 5 kg (10 units)

Examples:- 27-0-0 (CAN) 34-0-0 (Superstart) 46-0-0 (Urea) 24-6-12 27-4-4 20-10-10 25-0-13 0-46-0 0-0-60

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Crop Nutrient RequirementCrop Nutrient Requirement

Establish crop to be grown.

Calculate nutrients required by:

Referring to crop

recommendations in RB209

Or

Referring to DARD Crop

Nutrient Recommendation

Calculator at www.dardni.gov.uk

Nutrients Required Nutrients Required for 1for 1stst Cut Silage Cut Silage

P index2

K index2-

34m3/ha (3000 gallons/acre)

312kg/ha (2.5 bags 27:0:0/acre)

1. Assess nutrients available in the soil - soil

analysis

2. Assess crop nutrient requirement

3. Assess nutrients supplied by slurry

4. Balance crop need with chemical fertiliser

EU RegulationAims to improve water quality by making better use of farm nutrients

Livestock manure Nitrogen limits

◦What land to include

◦How to calculate the manure Nitrogen

Storage requirements

Closed periods and spreading

Nitrogen and Phosphate fertiliser

Record keeping

Annual stocking rate Jan-Dec Farm limit of 170 kg N per hectare (ha) per

year(Derogation to 250kg N per ha per year)

How is it calculated?Total nitrogen from livestock excretions

Agricultural area controlled

Enterprise Stock NumbersN Excretion per

stock (kg)Total N (kg)

Dairy Cows 70 91 6370

Cattle over 2 years

4 54 216

Calves 1-2 years

20 47 940

Cattle 0-1 year 20 19 380

Imported/exported livestock manure

0 0

Total 7906Average stock numbers based on 6 counts

Example:-Agricultural land area = 48 ha

Options: Reduce stock numbers

Farm additional land

Export livestock manure

Apply for a derogation

Approval from EU to operate up to 250 kg N/ha/year (higher stocking rate)

Eligibility criteria for individual farms:◦ 80% grassland◦ 250kg N/ha/year limit (grazing enterprises)◦ P balance under 10kg/ha

Additional plans and records required i.e.◦ fertilisation plan◦ fertilisation account

22 weeks storage for slurry

26 weeks pig & poultry

Calculate using Livestock Manure Storage Calculator at www.dardni.gov.uk or guidance workbook

Closed periods for

Fertiliser N: 15 Sept – 31 Jan

Slurry: 15 Oct – 31 Jan

FYM: 31 Oct – 31 Jan

Dirty water: no closed period

Strict guidelines for applying manures and

fertilisers

Sludgigators are banned

Fertiliser NGrassland - averaged over total grassland area

- maximum 8.25 bags/acre

Non-grassland - limits for each individual crop- establish N requirement (SNS)- account for N in slurry

Fertiliser P - must have soil analysis to show crop need

- take account of P in organic manures

Basic records Copy of SAF/IACS form Herd/flock register (APHIS) Fertiliser invoices Dimensions of storage tanks

Additional records required if: Not claiming SFP on land taken (control

agreement) Importing/exporting slurry Spreading fertiliser P

Legislative requirement

Operate at 170 kg N/ha per year or 250 kg N/ha per year

Closed periods for fertiliser, slurry and FYM application

Minimum 22 weeks slurry storage