Importance of preparing a fertilisation plan
Preparing a fertilisation plan is an important management tool and it is a requirement under the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) 2019-2022 where chemical nitrogen is applied to grassland, or where high P manure or anaerobic digestate is applied to any land.
Fertilisation planning must be carried out prior to nutrient application, as this ensures that nutrients (in particular, phosphorus) are not oversupplied. The fertilisation plan must be kept up to date over the course of the year, and where there are any changes to the planned nutrient applications, the plan should be revised. While it is not necessary to submit to NIEA, a fertilisation plan must be available on farm for inspection.
Preparing a fertilisation plan can provide numerous benefits, including:
- Avoiding the unnecessary application of chemical fertiliser
- Targeting the application of organic manures at low index areas
- Reduced spend on chemical fertiliser
- Compliance with Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) 2019-2022
- Reduced potential for water pollution
To create a fertilisation plan use the CAFRE online Crop Nutrient Calculator, available at DAERA Online Services.