PART 3PREVENTION OF WATER POLLUTION FROM THE APPLICATION OF FERTILISERS

Measures governing the limits on land application of nitrogen fertiliser to grassland9

1

The amount of total nitrogen in livestock manure applied to the agricultural area of a holding, both by land application and by the animals themselves, shall not exceed 170kg N/ha/year when calculated in accordance with paragraphs (3) and (4).

2

For each holding, the total available nitrogen in organic manures and chemical fertiliser, excluding livestock manures, applied to grassland, shall be in proportion to the crop requirement of the holding, and shall not exceed the amounts as defined in Schedule 1 Table 4, when calculated in accordance with paragraphs (5), (6) and (7).

3

The total nitrogen from livestock manure from animals kept on the holding will be calculated in accordance with Schedule 1 Table 1.

4

The total nitrogen from imported livestock manures will be calculated in accordance with Schedule 1 Table 2 for slurry and Schedule 1 Table 3 for solid livestock manures.

5

The total nitrogen content per tonne of other organic manures, excluding livestock manure, shall be as declared in accordance with the Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 200312 and any amending Regulations.

6

The amount of nitrogen available to a crop from chemical fertiliser, in the year of application of that fertiliser, is the percentage specified in Schedule 1 Table 6.

7

Except in the case of livestock manure, the amount of nitrogen available to a crop from organic manure in the year of its application is the percentage specified in Schedule 1 Table 6, in relation to cattle and other livestock manure.

8

Any controller wishing to deviate from the values set out in Schedule 1 Tables 1, 2 or 3 must present a scientific case in order to obtain prior approval from the Department, and the Department shall only grant such approval where it is satisfied that a scientific case has been established.

9

A controller may appeal the decision by the Department in paragraph (8) in accordance with the procedure set out in regulation 23.