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The Nitrate Regulations SI 788 of 2005 was reviewed and superseded by SI 378 of 2006 European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006. SI 788 did
not encourage the use of organic material such as compost on arable land
(Nitrogen Index System - Table 10 in SI 788). The reduced chemical nitrogen
application allowance, where organic fertiliser had been applied, acted as a
deterrent to their use by farmers. SI 378 has improved the
situation. Compost has been moved from index 4 to index 2. For example This
means that where winter wheat was restricted to 60 kg/ha of available
Nitrogen, SI 378 now allows a 140 kg / ha nitrogen. SI 788 did not mention the availability of nitrate and phosphate. SI 378 of 2006 has given the following standing to the availability of nitrate and phosphate from compost;
(1) Nitrate and phosphate from compost is given the same availability as from cattle manure or (2) An individual compost producer can go to the relevant Local Authority / Environmental Protection Agency and agree a figure on the availability of nitrate/ phosphate from their particular compost. Scientific information
available to Cré does not agree with the statement that nitrate
availability from compost is the same as from cattle manure as Nitrate is
slowly available from compost. However there is a ‘default mechanism’ in
which a compost producer can agree with the Local Authority /Environmental
Protection Agency on the availability from compost. However this ‘default
mechanism’ could lead to varying ‘agreed figures’ from different
regulators. To avoid the situation of conflicting ‘agreed figures’ Cré is taking the lead on a project which will review all scientific publications available and will seek to develop a ‘Standard Reference Document’ for the Composting Sector, Local Authorities and Environmental Protection Agency. Cré would hope that this Standard Reference Document can be developed in association with all the relevant regulators (Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture and Food).
New Nitrate Regulations (SI 378 of 2006) Old Nitrate Regulations (SI 788 of 2005)
More details on the Nitrate Regulations on the Department of
Environment. Heritage and Local Governemt website www.environ.ie |
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