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SCHEDULES

Regulation 8(2)(f)

SCHEDULE 4N.I.Risk assessment for fertiliser application to steeply sloping land

[F1PART 1] N.I.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in Sch. 4 inserted (Sch.4 renumbered as Sch. 4 Pt. 1) (15.10.2019) by The Nutrient Action Programme (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/183), regs. 1, 19(a)

1.  If an application of organic manure (including livestock manure) or chemical fertiliser to steeply sloping land is proposed, a risk assessment must be undertaken in addition to meeting all relevant requirements of these Regulations. The factors set out in Table 1 shall be considered in making this risk assessment. Table 2 shall be consulted to ascertain whether fertiliser application is permitted.N.I.

Table 1

Fertiliser application to steeply sloping ground – risk assessment factors

FactorRiskLiquid organic manuresSolid organic manures[F2Chemical fertiliser]
Distance from spreading area to waterway other than lakeHighless than 20 metresless than 20 metresless than 5 metres
Medium20 – 30 metres20 – 30 metres5 – 10 metres
Lowgreater than 30 metresgreater than 30 metresgreater than 10 metres
[F3Distance from spreading area to lakeHighless than 30 metresless than 30 metres less than 10 metres
Medium30 – 40 metres30 – 40 metres10 – 15 metres
Lowgreater than 40 metresgreater than 40 metresgreater than 15 metres]
Level of fertiliser appliedHighmore than 25m3/hamore than 25 tonnes/hagreater than 120 kg/N/ha
Medium15 – 25m3/ha15 – 25 tonnes/ha80 – 120 kg/N/ha
Lowless than 15m3/haless than 15 tonnes/haless than 80 kg/N/ha
Soil conditionsHighvery wet, compacted soilvery wet, compacted soilvery wet, compacted soil
Mediumwet, poached soilwet, poached soilwet, poached soil
Lowdry, firm trafficable soildry, firm trafficable soildry, firm trafficable soil
Forecast weather conditions for next 48 hoursHighheavy rainfall (more than 4 mm per hour)heavy rainfall (more than 4 mm per hour)heavy rainfall (more than 4 mm per hour)
Mediummoderate rainfall (0.5 – 4 mm per hour)moderate rainfall (0.5 – 4 mm per hour)moderate rainfall (0.5 – 4 mm per hour)
Lowlow rainfall (less than 0.5 mm per hour)low rainfall (less than 0.5 mm per hour)low rainfall (less than 0.5mm per hour)
Arable land only – time to incorporationHighmore than 48 hoursmore than 5 daysn/a
Medium12 – 48 hours3 – 5 daysn/a
Lowless than 12 hoursless than 3 daysn/a

Table 2

Risk assessment determination

Risk levelNumber of factors applicableIs the land application of fertiliser permitted
High RiskOne or more factorsNo
Medium RiskTwo or more factorsNo
One factorYes
Low RiskOne or more factorsYes

[F4PART 2N.I.Risk assessment for fertiliser application to land other than steeply sloping land

1.  If an application of organic manure (including livestock manure) or chemical fertiliser to sloping land is proposed, a risk assessment must be undertaken in addition to meeting all relevant requirements of these Regulations. The factors set out in Table 3 shall be considered in making this risk assessment. Table 4 shall be consulted to ascertain whether fertiliser application is permitted.N.I.

Table 3

Risk assessment for fertiliser application to land other than steeply sloping land

FactorRisk LevelOrganic ManuresChemical Fertiliser
GrasslandOther landGrasslandOther land
Slope percentage inclineHigh20% or more (See Part 1)15% or more (See Part 1)20% or more (See Part 1)15% or more (See Part 1)
Medium10 to less than 20%10 to less than 15%10 to less than 20%10 to less than 15%
LowLess than 10%Less than 10%Less than 10%Less than 10%
Distance from spreading area to waterway other than lakesHighLess than 10 metres (see Note 1)Less than 2 metres
Medium10 to 20 metres (see Note 2)2 to 5 metres
LowMore than 20 metresMore than 5 metres
Distance from spreading area to lakeHighLess than 20 metresLess than 10 metres
Medium20 to 30 metres10 to 15 metres
LowMore than 30 metresMore than 15 metres
Amount applied per hectare per applicationHighMore than 50m3 (liquid) or 50 tonnes (solid)More than 150kg Nitrogen
Medium25 to 50m3 (liquid) or 25 to 50 tonnes (solid) (see Note 2)120 to 150kg Nitrogen
LowLess than 25m3 (liquid) or 25 tonnes (solid)Less than 120kg Nitrogen
Soil conditions at time of proposed slurry applicationHighVery wet, compacted soilVery wet, compacted soil
MediumWet, poached soilWet, poached soil
LowDry, firm trafficable soilDry, firm trafficable soil
Forecast weather conditions for next 48 hoursHighHeavy rainfall (more than 4mm per hour)Heavy rainfall (more than 4mm per hour)
MediumModerate rainfall (0.5 to 4mm per hour)Moderate rainfall (0.5 to 4mm per hour)
LowLow rainfall (less than 0.5mm per hour)Low rainfall (less than 0.5mm per hour)
Arable land only – time to incorporationLiquidSolid
HighMore than 48 hours (see Note 3)More than 5 daysNot applicable
Medium12 to 48 hours3 to 5 daysNot applicable
LowLess than 12 hoursless than 3 daysNot applicable

Note 1: If regulation 8(5)(f) applies, for risk level “high” substitute “medium”.

Note 2: During the month of February and the period of 30th September to 15th October each year the distances and quantity in regulation 8(9) apply: spreading must not be done within 15m of a waterway or 5m if regulation 8(5)(f) applies, 30m of a lake and the application rate must not exceed 30m3 or 30 tonnes per hectare.

Note 3: Where organic manure is applied to an established crop, incorporation is not required, for risk level “high” substitute “medium”.

Table 4

Risk Assessment Determination

Risk LevelNumber of factors applicableIs the land application of fertiliser permitted?
HighOne or more factorsNo
MediumThree or more factorsNo
One or two factorsYes
LowOne or more factorsYes]