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Nutrient recycling

Food & nutrition

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Infinite nutrient stewardship

Code of Best Agricultural PracticeNitrogen

Fertilizer application

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Crops require an adequate supply of nutrients for healthy growth and to maintain satisfactory yields and product quality. The growth and harvest of a crop removes these nutrients from the soil’s reserves, which then must be replenished. Nitrogenous fertilizers contain the essential crop nutrient nitrogen (N) in a high quality mineral form that can be applied with precision for sustainable agricultural production.

The objective of this code is to encourage the responsible use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and prevent contamination of the atmosphere or aquatic environment.

3Code of Best Agricultural Practice - Nitrogen

Nutrient budgetfarm nutrient budgets should be set to determine the amount of fertilizer-derived nitrogen considering the n required by the crop and that available to it from the soil:

� ���Crop requirement should be estimated with reference to field experiments and approved recommendations considering the crop variety, expected yield, quality and N content.

� ���Soil N content at the end of winter is very variable and can be measured by soil sampling and analysis or estimated with reference to soil type and previous crop. Nitrogen mineralized from organic matter during the growing season also contributes to the budget.

� ���The availability of nitrogen from the soil varies with time and depends on the source of the organic matter, the soil characteristics and local weather.

� ���The availability of nitrogen from fertilizers also varies with time and depends on the fertilizer type, its form (liquid or solid) and application technique.

� ���Nitrogen compounds are transformed naturally in the environment and can generate leachable soil nitrate. Nitrogenous fertilizers should only be used to meet crop demand and avoid excessive leakage.

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Fertilizer planwhen making a fertilizer plan, the nutrient value of the farm’s own recycled materials should be considered first. manures, slurries and crop residues should be prioritized and mineral fertilizer purchased as a supplement:

� Nitrogen interacts with other nutrients: phosphate, potash, sulphur and micro-nutrients. A balanced fertilizer plan should ensure the correct amount of each nutrient.

� The most appropriate and efficient fertilizer should be selected and the calculated dose should take account of the content, chemical form and utilization rate of the nutrient components, considering the soil characteristics and the nutritional requirements of the crop.

� Applications of fertilizer should be timed to coincide with periods of nutrient uptake by the crop. Several split dressings may be required, especially for winter crops, to maximize nutrient uptake and prevent losses. In irrigated systems, split dressings should follow watering.

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5Code of Best Agricultural Practice - Nitrogen

� The fertilizer should be applied precisely, using the most appropriate technology for broadcasting, spraying or placement. Spreaders should be calibrated and used with fertilizers with good spreading properties.

� The plan must be revised if extreme weather conditions persist or crop growth and development is disrupted.

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In 1991, the European Union adopted a directive with the objective of reducing water pollution from nitrates. This EU “Nitrates Directive” was complemented in 2000 by the Water Framework Directive. Among other actions, EU member states are required to implement codes of good agricultural practice1 which advise on or regulate the following:

���The periods when land application of fertilizer is inappropriate;

��� Land application of fertilizer to steeply sloping ground;

��� Land application of fertilizer to water saturated, flooded, frozen or snow-covered ground;

��� The conditions for land application of fertilizer near water courses;

��� The capacity and construction of storage vessels for livestock manures, including measures to prevent water pollution by run-off and seepage into the groundwater of liquids containing livestock manures and effluents from stored plant materials such as silage;

���Procedures for land application of both fertilizer and livestock manures, including rate and uniformity of spreading.

EU member states may also include in their code(s) of good agricultural practice, rules on the following:

��� Land use management, including the use of crop rotation systems and the proportion of the land area devoted to permanent crops relative to annual tillage crops;

Limitation of nutrient losses measures applicable for water protection measures applicable for water protection

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���Maintenance of a minimum amount of vegetative cover during (rainy) periods to take up the nitrogen from the soil that could otherwise cause nitrate pollution of water;

���Establishment of fertilizer plans on a farm-by-farm basis and the keeping of records on fertilizer use;

���The prevention of water pollution from run-off and downward water movement beyond the reach of crop roots in irrigation systems.

The recommended measures developed for water protection also make an efficient contribution to the mitigation of emissions to the air (ammonia or nitrous oxide). These have been complemented by measures first defined and published by UN ECE research team ², then proposed by the European Commission in December 2013 in its “Air Quality” package 3.

2 Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe: Draft Guidance document on preventing and abating Ammonia emmissions from agriculture sources.

3 Source: European Commission: Air Quality Package 18/12/2013 - COM(2013) 920 - Annexes to the proposal for a NEC directive on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants.

1 Source: EU Directive concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, annex II (91/676/EEC).

measures to avoid losses to the air

7Code of Best Agricultural Practice - Nitrogen

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

IN EUROPE

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This brochure is published under Fertilizers Europe’s Infinite Nutrient Stewardship initiative within Infinite Fertilizers to increase the efficient use of nutrients and reduce the carbon footprint of food production. Fertilizers Europe represents the majority of fertilizer producers in Europe and is recognized as the dedicated industry source of information on mineral fertilizers. The association communicates with a wide variety of institutions, legislators, stakeholders and members of the public who seek information on fertilizer technology and topics relating to today’s agricultural, environmental and economic challenges. The Fertilizers Europe website provides information on subjects of relevance to all those interested in fertilizers contribution to global food security.