A.
What is it?
B.
Why is it important?
C.
How is it done?
Nutrients
In
Nutrients
Out
Getting the balance right!
Nutrients
In
Nutrients
Out
Nutrients needed by crops for
growth
N
Nitrogen ………
NO3 Nitrate
P Phosphorus ………
P2O5 Phosphate
K Potassium
………
K2O Potash
S Sulphur
………
S04 Sulphate
Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
Farm Survey &
Field Number
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
Farm Survey &
Field Number
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Texture
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Farm Survey &
Field Number
pH
Texture
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Lime requirement
for arable & Grass
25
25
20
20
15
15
10
10
5
5
0
0
1
2
Positive Ions
3
4
5
6
7
Nutrient availability
8
9
10 11 12
Ca/Mg ions
Plant Growth
Soil pH range for optimum crop growth
Cereals
Barley
Grass
Potato
4.5
5.5
6.5
7.5
pH
Lime is used to improve acidic soils
(i.e. raise low soil pHs)
8.5
Lime Requirement
Total lime = area of field x lime per ha
= 2.69 x 4
= 10.76t
Recommendation is for year 1only
Soil pH and
Nutrient
availability
Phosphorus (P)
Potash (K2O)
Ca Mg
Mo
Sulphur (S)
Fe Mn Cu Zn
Boron (B)
pH 4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Farm Survey &
Field Number
pH
Texture
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Lime requirement
for arable & Grass
Available amounts of nutrients
(Index)
Phosphate: What does it do?

Energy Transfer (ATP)

Root & Shoot Growth

Sugar Manufacture & Transport

Component of Proteins (incl DNA)
Increasing Soil P
Soil P Index
What the P Index means
Production will be limited.
Requires slurry/manure and/or P fertiliser.
0
Deficient
1
Optimum Extensive grazing.
Extensive Continue with usual slurry & fertiliser policy.
2
Optimum
Intensive
Intensive grazing & silage fields & arable.
Continue with usual slurry & fertiliser policy.
High
No yield response to added P. Redistribute
slurry to more suitable fields. Use a zero- P
fertiliser. Apply P to arable crop needs only.
3
4+
No yield response to added P. Redistribute
Excessive slurry to more suitable fields. Use a zero- P
fertiliser. Apply P to arable crop needs only.

Speeds up reactions (catalyst)

Controls water movement (translocation)

Controls water loss

Involved in nutrient and sugar transport.
Increasing Soil K
Soil K Index
0
Deficient
1
Low
2-
Optimum
High
2+
3
4&
above
What the K Index means
Production will be limited.
Requires slurry and/or high K fertiliser.
Inadequate for production, especially silage.
Use slurry and/or high K fertiliser.
Grazing, silage & arable fields.
Continue with usual slurry and fertiliser policy.
High
No yield response to added potash.
Avoid slurry applications unless low P levels.
Redistribute slurry to more suitable fields.
Excessive
No yield response to added potash.
Avoid slurry applications unless low P levels.
Redistribute slurry to more suitable fields.



During rapid vegetative
growth, the rapid
uptake of nitrogen as
negatively charged
nitrate ions (NO3-) is
normally balanced by a
similar uptake of
positively charged
potash ions (K+) which
maintains the electrical
neutrality of the plant
Water mobility
Tugor pressure
Soil - summary
• Valuable source of nutrients
• Sample every 4 years
• Use analysis to determine the
amount of nutrients in the soil
• The higher the soil nutrient reserves
(Index), the lower the need for
additional nutrients
Slurry
10 million m3
Produced in NI each year
N
P205
K20
6% dry matter
10% dry matter
2.6
3.6
1.2
1.8
3.2
4.0
4% dry matter
6% dry matter
3.6
1.8
2.8
4.4
2.6
2.8
Livestock Type
Broiler litter
(60% Dry Matter)
30
25
18
1kg/m3 = 9 units/1000
gal
Determining DM content of cattle
slurry
2% DM
6% DM
Consistency
of dirty
water
Consistency
of thick soup
10% DM
Consistency
of thick
sticky
porridge
3000 gallons/acre (33m3/ha) Cattle slurry
Spring
= 2014 £31/acre
(£76/ha)
Autumn
= 2014
£28/acre
(£69/ha)



Organic manures are a valuable source of
nutrients
Use at the right time, rate, place and with the
right equipment
Chemical fertiliser is expensive and should
only be used as a top up.
Why manage nutrients?
1. Potential to reduce fertiliser costs
2. Protect the environment
3. Meet Nitrates Directive requirements
The value of slurry
3000 gal/acre Cattle slurry
= £31/acre
100 cow dairy herd
= £4,200/yr
50 suckler herd
= £1,300/yr
Total slurry in NI
= £23m
2. Protect the environment
• Nutrient loss – phosphates and nitrates
•Slurry & fertiliser runoff
•Leaching through the soil
•Soil particle loss
• Causes nutrient enrichment
(eutrophication)

If sowing chemical P fertiliser
◦ Soil Analysis
◦ P recommendation for the crop
◦ Type and quantity of all fertiliser
containing P applied

If sowing chemical N fertiliser on
crops other than grass
◦ Soil N supply index
Step
Step
Step
Step
1
2
3
4
-
Soil analysis
What does the soil analysis mean?
Estimate Nitrogen requirements
What nutrients does the crop
require?
Step 5 - How many nutrients can be
supplied by organic manures?
Step 6 - Which chemical fertiliser can
supply the remaining nutrients
required
Step 1 - Soil Analysis Laboratory Report
Mr AN Other
Somewhere
Report generated on: 07 March 2008
Date Received: 29 February 2009
pH
Texture
Lab No./
Reference
400-2008
Soil
1-19-60 Field 4
6.1
SZL
(Sandy
silt loam)
Farm Survey &
Field Number
pH
Texture
Lime Requirement
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Arable
t/ha
(t/acre)
Grass
t/ha
(t/acre)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
mg/l
(index)
4.00
(2.00)
0.00
(0.00)
20.0
(2)
216
(2+)
102
(3)
Lime requirement
for arable & Grass
Available amounts of nutrients
(Index)



Not included in soil analysis
Estimated after considering, rainfall, soil
type and previous cropping
Soil Nitrogen Supply Index – the higher the
index, the lower the requirement
See pages 68 & 69 of the NAP
Booklet
Crop requirement depends on:
•Crop type
•What’s already in the soil
The higher the soil nutrient
reserves (Soil Index), the lower
the need for additional nutrients
RB 209
Crop requirement for phosphate
See page 72 Nitrates Guidance Booklet

Establish the Soil Nitrogen Supply Index
(SNS)and N requirement for the crop

Follow RB209 recommendation
Step 6
Chemical Fertiliser
25 5 5
% Nitrogen
(N)
% Potash
(K20)
% Phosphate
(P205)
1 50kg bag/acre = 125kg/ha
Getting the balance right – Spring Barley
Crop requirement
(Based on crop type &
soil analysis)
Available nutrients in
33m3 dairy cow slurry
Chemical fertiliser
requirement
(1)
N
140
Kg/ha
(2)
P2O5
50
(2+)
K20
40
35
40
104
105
10
0




Determine N, P2O5 and K2O required by crops;
Calculate the amount of nutrients supplied by
organic manures
Select the correct chemical fertiliser and
application rate
Retain information required for record
keeping
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
N, P, K In = N, P, K Out
Nutrient sources soil, slurry/ manure and fertiliser
Make best use of nutrient sources
 Save money
 Protect the environment
 Meet Nitrates Directive Requirements
How?
 Soil sampling and analysis is the starting point
 Estimate crop needs
 Use slurry/manure effectively
 Only use fertiliser to top-up any outstanding crop
needs
Help
 Crop Nutrient Recommendation Calculator
 Nitrates Guidance
 RB209
 Codes of Good Agricultural Practice