PART 3

Crop requirements

Planning the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser
6
1
An occupier of a holding who intends to spread nitrogen fertiliser must—
a
calculate the amount of nitrogen in the soil that is likely to be available for uptake by the crop during the growing season (“the soil nitrogen supply”),
b
calculate the optimum amount of nitrogen that should be spread on the crop, taking into account the amount of nitrogen available from the soil nitrogen supply, and
c
produce a plan for the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser for that growing season.
2
In the case of any crop other than permanent grassland, the occupier must comply with paragraph (1) before spreading any nitrogen fertiliser for the first time for the purpose of fertilising a crop planted or intended to be planted.
3
In the case of permanent grassland the occupier must comply with paragraph (1) each year beginning 1 January before the first spreading of nitrogen fertiliser.
4
The plan must be in permanent form.
5
The plan must record—
a
the reference or name of the relevant field,
b
the area of the field planted or intended to be planted, and
c
the type of crop.
6
For the area planted or intended to be planted the plan must record—
a
the soil type,
b
the previous crop (if the previous crop was grass, whether it was managed by cutting or grazing),
c
the soil nitrogen supply calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) and the method used to establish this figure,
d
the anticipated month that the crop will be planted,
e
the anticipated yield (if arable), and
f
the optimum amount of nitrogen that should be spread on the crop, taking into account the amount of nitrogen available from the soil nitrogen supply.
Reg. 6 in force at 1.4.2021, see reg. 1(3)