Baseline information on agricultural practices in the EU ... - Europabio

Zone Member State Use Tillage
C
South
-: no data available
Fertiliser
(kg/ha)
Bulgaria - - -
Cyprus - - -
France All 84% ploughing a
Grain
Silage
0.2% direct
seeding
15.8%
superficial,
without turning
the soil
232 N SW b
210 N W
220 N NW
156 N a ,
71 P2O5,
97 K2O
78 N a ,
51 P2O5,
87 K2O
Greece - - -
Italy Not specified 30% no
ploughing
Portugal Not specified Ploughing or
Direct seeding l,m
Spain Grain/silage Ploughing;
20% no
ploughing
5% direct drill in
second crop m
Insecticides
(% applied of
the cultivated
area)
42% SW b
32% W
33% NW
200 N b 5% N b
220-230 minus
amount in organic
matter and irrigation
water N l
350 N b
210-350 N (170
from manure) i
10% NE b
For silage maize fertilizer is often applied as semi-liquid manure from cattle with a small row gift of
mineral N at the start of the growing season. Often the manure contains sufficient phosphorus to fulfil
the need.
Not only are the requirements of a specific crop or soil conditions determining the agricultural practice
of applying manure or mineral fertilisers, also laws and regulations are, to a large extend, weighing on
the agricultural practice. As an example the Nitrates Directive 18 aiming to protect water quality across
Europe by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters, sets a
maximum of 170 kg N/ha originating from livestock manure in "vulnerable zones", amongst other
measurements. Phosphorus application with chemical fertilisers, as a rule, is prohibited unless soil
analysis is performed and a permit is issued by the competent authority.
Some Member States establish codes of good agricultural practice and set up an action programme
for the vulnerable zones. Some examples:
• In the Netherlands the requirements are laid down in the ‘Meststoffenwet’ (1986 and
amendments) and implementing decrees and decisions.
• In Flanders (Belgium), the Manure Decree (Mestdecreet, 2006 and amendments) as worked
out in the ‘Mestactieplan’ (MAP1 in 1996, MAP2 in 1998, MAP3 in 2006 and draft MAP4 in
2010) is applicable.
18 91/676/EEC, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1-8
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