Transcript Fertiliser N

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
Peaty soils
pH 6.0 – 6.5
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
Ground
Limestone/
Magnesium
Limestone
Granulated
Lime
kg/acre
required
1000
400
Cost/acre
£20
£45 +
application
kg/acre
required
2000
800
£40
£90 +
application
Soil pH
pH 5.7
pH 5.2
Cost/acre
Index
0
1
2
3
>4
Description
Deficient
OK for extensive
Optimum for grazing
or silage.
High
Excessive
Index
Description
0
Deficient
1
Low
2-
Optimum for grazing or
silage.
2+
High
3 & above
Excessive

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
13
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

When – 1st February – 15th October in suitable
weather & ground conditions
Aim to apply slurry & manure in the same
conditions and weather as when applying
bagged fertiliser. Leave 3-4 days after applying
slurry before applying bagged fertiliser – N loss
minimised .

Where – 10m from water course, 20m from lakes,
50m spring, well or borehole & 250m public water
supply
16
Inverted splashplate
Trailing shoe
17

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
Getting The Balance Right
Nutrients
In
Nutrients
Out
A 50 kg bag of 20:10:10
fertiliser 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
Crop 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
22
Nutrients Required for 1st
Cut Silage
34m3/ha (3000 gallons/acre)
312kg/ha (2.5 bags 27:0:0/acre)
P index
2
K index
2-
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 Regulation
Aims 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
Example:Agricultural land area = 48 ha
70
N Excretion per
stock (kg)
91
4
54
216
Calves 1-2 years
20
47
940
Cattle 0-1 year
20
19
380
0
0
Total
7906
Enterprise
Dairy Cows
Cattle over 2 years
Stock Numbers
Imported/exported livestock
manure
Total N (kg)
6370
Average stock numbers based on 6 counts
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 N
Grassland
- 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