Nutrient Management
Fertiliser Recommendation Systems - Introduction
Matching applications of nutrients to crop requirement is a form of good
nutrient management. It helps ensure the efficient utilisation of nutrients
by the crop, thereby:
- reducing the risk of nutrient loss to the environment and protecting
natural resources, and
- increasing net returns for farmers.
Defra has developed a number of policies to encourage the efficient use
of nutrients, for example:
- In Nitrate
Vulnerable Zones, farmers must not apply more fertiliser nitrogen
than required by the crop, taking into account crop uptake and soil nitrogen
supply from soil organic matter, crop residues and organic manures.
- As part of their Environmental
Stewardship agreement, farmers can receive points for completing Nutrient
Management Plans (Option EM2), which encourages farmers to match applications
to crop requirements.
However, determining 'crop requirement' for crops under local field conditions
can be difficult, as can calculating the supply of nutrients from other
sources such as manures. Therefore Defra has developed a number of guidance
tools to help farmers and land managers make these practical decisions
and calculations at the field level. These guidance tools include:
- Fertiliser Recommendations
for Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (RB209)
- PLANET, a computer-based
tool that can help with the planning of nutrient applications to land
- MANNER, a computer-based
tool that calculates the nutrient content of manures.
Page last modified:
26 June 2006
Page published: 26 June 2006
