Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Nutrient application

• Do not apply more N than your crops require – there are limits within NVZs on the amount of N from livestock manure and manufactured N fertiliser you can use
• Plan your N use before making any applications
• Do not exceed a loading of 170kg total N content per ha per year (N/ha/year) from livestock manures averaged over the total area of your farm. This includes manure applied by spreading and manure deposited by grazing animals
• Comply with closed periods for spreading organic manures and manufactured N fertiliser

Storage requirements

• Provide adequate storage capacity for livestock manures. You should have sufficient storage in place by 1 Jan 2012 at the latest
• Requirements are 5monhts slurry storage for cattle slurry and 6 months for pig slurry

Record keeping

• Keep records of the N applied to each of your fields and some records and calculations relating to your farm as a whole. You must keep all records for at least 5 years
• Produce a risk map for any land where you intend to spread organic manures

• If you are a grassland based system, with at least 80% of your fields to grass you may be elgible to apply for a derogation from the 170kgN/ha/year to 250kgN/ha/year
• For more information please read leaflet 5a
• To apply for an NVZ derogation online click here
• Alternatively, you can apply by telephone or get a paper application form by calling the Environment Agency’s Derogation Line on 0845 603 3113.

Source: Net Regs

For more information on aspects of NVZs, please contact the Environment Agency on 01392 442082, or see below to download the farmer guidance booklets

• Leaflet 1 – Summary of the guidance for farmers in NVZs
• Leaflet 2 – Implementing the rules – scope, timing & enforcement
• Leaflet 3 – Standard values, manure sampling protocol & glossary **
• Leaflet 4 – Storage of organic manure
• Leaflet 5 – The livestock manure N farm limit
• Leaflet 5a – The derogated livestock manure N farm limit
• Leaflet 6 – Planning N use
• Leaflet 7 – The N max limit
• Leaflet 8 – Field application of organic manures
• Leaflet 9 – Field application of manufactured N fertiliser

** In NVZ leaflet 3, table 8 the livestock manure efficiencies are to be increased for cattle slurry from 35% to 40% and for pig slurry from 45% to 50% for 1st January 2014.