From manure inspections by the NVWA in 2024, it appears that about 10 percent does not meet the conditions for spreading manure according to the Environmental Activities Decree (BAL). A significant part of these inspections was carried out following a report to the NVWA. By ensuring that the conditions of the field to be fertilized are optimal, the equipment can apply the manure correctly.
Points of Attention for Fertilization
To ensure that fertilization on arable land meets the conditions, it is necessary for the recipient of the manure to ensure that the conditions for applying the manure are optimal. The recipient knows the field and the soil best. To ensure that the equipment used to incorporate the manure into the soil works well, pre-treatment is often necessary. It is important that the equipment can process the manure well below the soil surface by creating a trench and then covering it again to prevent the manure from lying on top of the ground. Keep in mind the soils absorption capacity. A large manure application can compromise the work result and lead to more nitrogen loss. In unevenly plowed or cultivated soil or wet or hard soil, it is difficult to incorporate the manure properly. In cultivated arable land (especially winter grains), the manure must be incorporated into the soil and not left on the surface. When using a so-called trailing shoe applicator, conditions are often not met.
Grassland
On grassland, it is also important to ensure that the trenches are deep enough to incorporate all the manure. A high manure application can also lead to problems. If a trailing shoe applicator is used on clay and the manure is supplied through a trailing hose mixed with water, the manure often flows out, resulting in a manure track wider than 5 centimeters and the result is insufficient.
Buffer Strips
The requirement not to fertilize buffer strips is relatively new. The land user is the one who knows what the width of the buffer strips should be. Thus, the land user has the responsibility to provide the operator, who applies the manure, with good instructions so that the buffer strip remains unfertilized.
If the proper fertilization conditions are not met, a report will be drawn up by the NVWA inspector.
Almost all the regulations of the BAL are also prerequisites for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Therefore, the NVWA reports violations of the BAL to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). A violation can also have consequences for participation in the derogation.
More information about spreading manure can be found on the RVO website.
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