• CNUM1: Assess nutrient management and produce a review report
• £652 for the assessment and review report per year
• 3 years
• Whole farm
Contents
Title
•Benefits of nutrient planning to include integrating fertilizer and manure , best practice applications and techniques
•Calibrating machinery and environmental risks.
•Improving soil condition to aid nutrient uptake
•Current regulations Nitrate Vulnerable Zones and Farming Rules for Water
•Record keeping
•Soil nutrient supply (SNS) for Nitrogen calculations
•Soil testing ( how, where and when). What for
•Understanding results
•Developing a Nutrient management plan to meet CNUM1 of the Sustainable Farming Initiative.
•Using a FACTS qualified advisor
Why nutrient budgeting is important
Title
• Maintaining a profitable farming business requires good nutrient management, an important aspect of this and can contribute both to the efficiency of the farming business and to reducing environmental impacts.
• Ensures the carefully managed application of all nutrients, including manufactured fertilisers and organic materials,
• Good nutrient management using a balanced long-term approach is part of a sustainable agricultural system that is resilient to climate and economic change
• Reduces over application
Green house gas emissions and water quality
Title
• At present, agriculture is estimated to contribute around 9% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 70% of the UK’s nitrous oxide emissions
• Careful planning, paying particular attention to soil pH that maximises the efficiency of fertiliser use and better management of manures, can help reduce the amount of nitrogen that is lost as nitrous oxide
• In England and Wales, around 60% of nitrates and 25% of phosphates in our waters originate from agricultural land. Elevated levels of these nutrients can harm the aquatic environment and have an impact on biodiversity
Best Practice
Title
• Avoiding build-up or maintenance above the target Index
• Maintain the target level of crop-available soil phosphate, taking full account of the phosphate content of organic materials applied
• Minimising the risk of soil damage and erosion
• Avoiding surface applications of inorganic fertilisers and organic manures
• when soils are snow-covered
• Frozen hard
• Waterlogged
• Deeply cracked,
• On steeply sloping ground adjacent to watercourses ( above 12degree)
• Immediately before heavy rain (24hours)
• Integrate fertilsers and manure to get best results
Calibrate your machinery
Title
• Use a tray test for accurate spreading
• Slurry spreaders measure forward speed spread width and time to Different fertilizer need different settings ( check bag before use)
• GPS tracking etc
Calibrate your machinery
Title
• Reduce overlaps and wasted applications
• Saves money, time and diesel
• Accurate ripening of crops
• Reduces risk of run off, fertilizer in hedge bottoms and in watercourses
• Different fertilizer need different settings ( check bag before use)
• The better the soil condition the more efficient nutrients uptake
• Compacted soils can reduce nutrient uptake by 30%
• Over 60% of grassland soils in England and Wales show signs of compaction.
• Either the nutrients don’t get to the roots, leached away, or the roots themselves haven’t developed enough to take up the applications
• Assess soils for the SFI option CSAM1: Assess soil, produce a soil management plan and test soil organic matter £6/ha + £97/year
• This wastes time and money
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones
• Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ)
• Use MAGIC to find if you are in a NVZ (55% of country )
• https://magic.defra.gov.uk/magicmap.aspx
• Specifically Nitrogen
• Closed periods
• Max N rates
• Max Manure applications both per Ha and farm total
• Storage rules
Farming Rules for Water
Title
• Farming Rules for Water (FRfW)
• two top breaches of Farming Rules for Water – lack of recent soil testing and no nutrient management plan.
• Soil sampling is mandatory if applying fertilizer or manures
• Soil tests may be subsidized by companies, CSF or NFU
• FRfW suggests P index 3 fields should not receive manures
• Justify applications of slurries and manures on these fields
Record keeping
• Statutory rules for nitrogen management apply in NVZs. The Nutrient Management Plan includes two recording sheets: – Farm Record Sheet, for the whole farm; – Field Record Sheet, for each field. Completing these forms through the season creates a record of nutrient planning and use.
• Tried and Tested
• https://www.triedandtested.org.uk/
Record keeping
Title
• Important to know when , what and how much manure you applied
• The FACTs advisor should assess manure and fertilizer combinations
• P indexes
• Buffers
• Steep ground
Soil testing
Title
• Ideally soil test once every 3 years
• FRfW and SFI requires once in 5 years
• Grass and Arable
• Soil Organic Matter (SOM) required for CSAM1: Assess soil, produce a soil management plan and test soil organic matter
• Testing for Nitrogen can be done but using Soil Nitrogen Supply figures based on: Previous cropping, Soil type, Rainfall and Historic nitrogen inputs
Soil testing
Title
• Walk in a W across the field
• Don't test fields recently fertilised or dunged
• Don’t test near gateways and tracks or field edges
• 15cm depth for arable 8cm grass
• 20 samples/field and mix well
• Use local agri stores or advisors to send samples
• Samples cost from £12 depending on numbers and what you need
Nutrient efficiency under different ph soils
Title
Soil testing
Title
• Recommendations are based on RB209 and are based on the best “economic” and environmental applications
• This may not be the requirement for some low input or species rich grassland
• Herbal leys now have restrictions of no more than around 40 kilograms (kg) of nitrogen per ha per year
• Soil Nutrient Supply is based on previous crop and management
• Straw removal will affect P and K indexes
• Bought in feed can import both P and K
Manures
Title
• You can test your manures or use standard figures from RB209
• Includes digestates, and composts
Manures
Title
Manures
Title
Manures
Title
Using a FACTS qualified advisor
Title
• https://basis-reg.co.uk/find-an-adviser
• A FACTS qualified advisor has passed the “Fertiliser Advisers Certification and Training Scheme”
• assess your current nutrient use and needs for your farm
• identify and discuss opportunities to increase efficiency of your nutrient usage, and maximise the use of natural sources of crop nutrients on that land
• help you produce a written NM review report
Using a FACTS qualified advisor
Title
• There is no set report template
• The NMP to be completed within 12 months of the scheme starting
• The NMP should be reviewed by the FACTS advisor every 12 months
Using a FACTS qualifies advisor
Title
• The NMP should be reviewed by the FACTS advisor every 12 months
• Keep the plan for your records and to show if there is an inspection
• Keep the name of the advisor and contact details
• To find a FACTS qualified advisor
• https://basis-reg.co.uk/find-an-adviser
Using a FACTS qualifies advisor
Title
• Many groups have FACTS qualified advisors
• Most Agronomists
• Mole Valley etc
• Westcountry Rivers Trust
• Cornwall Wildlife Trusts
• FWAG
• Most charge but if you are in a particular project area you may get a reduced rate
Using a FACTS qualifies advisor
Title
• Completing an NM assessment
• To help you achieve this action’s aim, you can do the following to plan the right amount of nutrients for your soil:
• calculate the nutrient and pH requirements of the crop
• sample and test the soil in each field for pH, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium –
• calculate the nutrient levels that will be supplied from organic sources, such as legumes, manure, slurry or digestate, or nutrients recycled from the return of crop residues (for example, straw)
• calculate the amount of artificial fertiliser you’ll need to apply so it does not exceed what the crop needs – increasing nutrient supply from the soil and organic sources will reduce the need for artificial fertiliser
Completing a NMP
Title
• Completing an NM assessment
• To help you achieve this action’s aim, you can do the following to plan the right amount of nutrients for your soil:
• calculate the nutrient and pH requirements of the crop
• sample and test the soil in each field for pH, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium –
• calculate the nutrient levels that will be supplied from organic sources, such as legumes, manure, slurry or digestate, or nutrients recycled from the return of crop residues (for example, straw)
• calculate the amount of artificial fertiliser you’ll need to apply so it does not exceed what the crop needs – increasing nutrient supply from the soil and organic sources will reduce the need for artificial fertiliser
Completing a NMP
Title
• CNUM1 will pay £652/year for 3 years
• Must have an SBI
• No issues with SSSI’s or Historic land
• All other SFI, CS and ES options can be stacked on land under NUM1
