The Nutrient Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019

Measures governing the limits on land application of organic manures with a high proportion of phosphorus N.I.

14.—(1) Where an organic manure contains more than 0.25 kg of total phosphorus per 1 kg of total nitrogen calculated in accordance with Table 2 of Schedule 2 it shall not be applied to land unless the controller of a holding can demonstrate that the total amount of available phosphorus applied does not exceed the recommendations contained in the fertiliser technical standards for crop requirement for phosphorus taking into consideration soil phosphorus index, the recommended soil phosphorus index for the crop and the supply of phosphorus available from the application of other fertilisers.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—

(a) the soil phosphorus index shall be ascertained in accordance with Schedule 5;

(b) the phosphorus fertiliser recommendations for grassland shall be those set out in Tables 1 and 2 of Schedule 3, adjusted in accordance with the note to Table 1; and

(c) the available phosphorus content of livestock manures and other fertilisers is as set out in Table 3 of Schedule 3.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply where—

(a) the organic manure is applied in accordance with the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1990 or a licence or exemption granted under the Waste Regulations; or

(b) the organic manure arises from a livestock enterprise contributing no more than 7 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year applied to the agricultural area of a holding, both by land application and by the animals themselves.

(4) From 1st January 2020, where paragraph (1) applies, the controller shall prepare and retain a fertilisation plan.