Application of manure and other fertilisers
Article 5
1
The amount of livestock manure from grazing livestock applied to the land each year on grassland farms, including by the animals themselves, shall not exceed the amount of manure containing 250 kg nitrogen per hectare, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 7.
2
The total nitrogen inputs shall not exceed the foreseeable nutrient demand of the considered crop, shall take into account the supply from the soil, and shall not exceed the maximum fertilisation rate applicable to the farm, established in the Nitrates Action Programme. Total nitrogen application shall be differentiated on the basis of stocking rate and grassland productivity.
3
A fertilisation plan shall be kept for each farm describing the crop rotation of the farmland and the planned application of manure and other fertilisers. It shall be available in the farm for each calendar year before 1 March. The fertilisation plan shall comprise at least the following:
a
the crop rotation plan, which must specify the acreage of parcels with grass and parcels with other crops, including a sketch map indicating the location of individual parcels;
b
the number of livestock, a description of the housing and storage system, including the volume of manure storage available;
c
a calculation of manure nitrogen and phosphorus produced in the farm;
d
the amount, type and characteristics of manure delivered outside the farm or to the farm;
e
the foreseeable nitrogen and phosphorus crop requirements for each parcel;
f
results of soil analysis related to nitrogen and phosphorus soil status if available;
g
the nature of the fertiliser to be used;
h
a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure over each parcel;
i
a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from chemical and other fertilisers over each parcel.
The fertilisation plan shall be revised no later than seven days following any change in agricultural practices to ensure consistency between this plan and actual agricultural practices.
4
Fertilisation accounts, including information related to management of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs and management of soiled water, shall be kept by each farmer.
They shall be submitted to the competent authority for each calendar year.
5
For each grassland farm benefiting from a derogation, the farmer shall accept that the application referred to in Article 4(1), the fertilisation plan and the fertilisation accounts can be subject to control.
6
Periodic nitrogen and phosphorus analysis in soil shall be done by each farmer who is granted a derogation for accurate fertilisation.
Sampling and analysis must be carried out at least once every four years for each homogeneous area of the farm, with regard to crop rotation and soil characteristics.
At least one analysis per five hectares of farmland shall be carried out.
The results of nitrogen and phosphorus analysis in soil shall be available at the farm benefiting from a derogation.
7
Livestock manure shall not be spread in the autumn before grass cultivation.