Conditions regarding application of manure and other fertilisers
Article 6
1. The amount of livestock manure from grazing livestock applied to the land each year on grassland farms, including by the animals themselves, shall not exceed the amount of manure containing 250 kg nitrogen/ha per year, subject to the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2 to 6 of this Article. From 2024, as a consequence of the two-year review, this maximum amount shall not exceed 220 kg nitrogen/ha per year in the areas referred to in Article 12. 2. The total nitrogen inputs shall neither exceed the foreseeable nutrient demand of each crop nor the maximum fertilisation rate applicable to grassland farms as established in the Nitrates Action Programme, and shall take into account the supply from the soil. Total nitrogen application shall be differentiated on the basis of the stocking rate and grassland productivity. 3. A fertilisation plan shall be prepared and kept for each grassland farm. The fertilisation plan shall describe the crop rotation of the farmland and the planned application of manure and other fertilisers. That plan shall be available on the grassland farm for each calendar year, before 1 March of that year. That plan shall include at least the following: (a) the crop rotation plan specifying the following: (i) the acreage of parcels with grass; (ii) the acreage of parcels with crops other than grass; (iii) a sketch map indicating the location of individual parcels; (b) the number of livestock on the grassland farm; (c) a description of the housing and manure storage system, including the volume of manure storage available; (d) a calculation of the manure nitrogen and phosphorus produced on the grassland farm; (e) the amount, type and characteristics of manure delivered outside the grassland farm or to the grassland farm; (f) the foreseeable nitrogen and phosphorus crop requirements for each parcel; (g) results of soil analysis related to nitrogen and phosphorus soil status if available; (h) the nature of the fertiliser to be used; (i) a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from manure for each parcel; (j) a calculation of nitrogen and phosphorus application from chemical and other fertilisers for each parcel. The fertilisation plan shall be revised no later than 7 days following any change in agricultural practices at the grassland farm. Fertilisation accounts, including information related to the management of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs and the management of soiled water, shall be prepared and kept for each grassland farm. They shall be submitted to the competent authority for each calendar year by 31 March of the following calendar year. A liming programme shall be adopted based on a nutrient management plan and associated to soil analysis results. 4. Livestock manure shall not be spread in the autumn before grass cultivation. 5. At least 50 % of slurry produced on the grassland farm shall be applied by 15 June. Low-emission slurry spreading equipment shall be used for all slurry applications. 6. The stocking rate allowance on commonage areas shall not exceed 50 kg nitrogen/ha. Chemical fertiliser shall not be permitted on commonage areas.