PART 3Crop requirements

Planning the spreading of nitrogen fertiliserI16

1

An occupier of a holding who intends to spread nitrogen fertiliser must—

a

calculate the amount of nitrogen in the soil that is likely to be available for uptake by the crop during the growing season (“the soil nitrogen supply”),

b

calculate the optimum amount of nitrogen that should be spread on the crop, taking into account the amount of nitrogen available from the soil nitrogen supply, and

c

produce a plan for the spreading of nitrogen fertiliser for that growing season.

2

In the case of any crop other than permanent grassland, the occupier must comply with paragraph (1) before spreading any nitrogen fertiliser for the first time for the purpose of fertilising a crop planted or intended to be planted.

3

In the case of permanent grassland the occupier must comply with paragraph (1) each year beginning 1 January before the first spreading of nitrogen fertiliser.

4

The plan must be in permanent form.

5

The plan must record—

a

the reference or name of the relevant field,

b

the area of the field planted or intended to be planted, and

c

the type of crop.

6

For the area planted or intended to be planted the plan must record—

a

the soil type,

b

the previous crop (if the previous crop was grass, whether it was managed by cutting or grazing),

c

the soil nitrogen supply calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) and the method used to establish this figure,

d

the anticipated month that the crop will be planted,

e

the anticipated yield (if arable), and

f

the optimum amount of nitrogen that should be spread on the crop, taking into account the amount of nitrogen available from the soil nitrogen supply.