The Nitrates Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

General measures governing the limits on land application of nitrogen fertiliser

9.—(1) Save where regulation 12 applies, the amount of total nitrogen in livestock manure and anaerobic digestate containing digested livestock manure applied to the agricultural area of a holding, both by land application and by the animals themselves, shall not exceed 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year when calculated in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The total nitrogen from livestock manure from animals kept on the holding is calculated in accordance with Table 1 of Schedule 1.

(3) The total nitrogen from imported livestock manure and other fertilisers is calculated in accordance with Table 2 of Schedule 1.

(4) The amount of nitrogen available to a crop from organic manure or chemical fertiliser, in the year of application of that fertiliser, is the percentage specified in Table 3 of Schedule 1.

(5) Any controller wishing to deviate from the values set out in Tables 1 or 2 of Schedule 1 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.

(6) A controller may appeal the decision by the Department in paragraph (5) in accordance with the procedure set out in regulation 29.