FOCUS - Foundation for Arable Research · about nutrient management planning for your arable farm...

FOCUSF o u n d a t i o n F o r A r a b l e R e s e a r c h

FAR

Nutrient Management Plans

FOCUS

• Whatisanutrientmanagementplan?

• Resources

• Nutrientmanagementchecklist

I s s u e 0 6 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

I S S U E

6

A D D I N G VA L U E T O T H E B U S I N E S S O F A R A B L E F A R M I N G ™®

2

Introduction“Each unit of land should be farmed within its limits; achieving sustainability does not need to come at the cost of production or profit”

A nutrient management plan is your plan for optimising the use of nutrients on your farm.

Contents1.Background..........................................2 • Nutrientmanagementplans • Nutrientplanninglinkages

2.Introduction..........................................5 • WhydoIneedanutrientmanagementplan? • Whatisanutrientmanagementplan? • Whatshouldmynutrientmanagement planinclude? • Nutrientmanagementchecklist • Makingithappen

3.Resources.............................................8 • Nutrientmanagementtools • Farmmapping • Soilmapping • Soilmaps • Soiltesting • FertiliserPurchaseRecords

4.Nutrientmanagementchecklist........ 10 • Propertymanagement • Farmresources • Fertilisermanagement • Soiltesting • Soilmanagement • Irrigation • Waterways

©FoundationforArableResearch(FAR)

DISCLAIMER

ThispublicationiscopyrighttotheFoundationforArableResearchandmaynotbereproducedorcopiedinanyformwhatsoeverwithoutwrittenpermission.

ThisFARFocusisintendedtoprovideaccurateandadequateinformationrelatingtothesubjectmatterscontainedinit.IthasbeenpreparedandmadeavailabletoallpersonsandentitiesstrictlyonthebasisthatFAR,itsresearchersandauthorsarefullyexcludedfromanyliabilityfordamagesarisingoutofanyrelianceinpartorinfulluponanyoftheinformationforanypurpose.Noendorsementofnamedproductsisintendednorisanycriticismofotheralternative,butunnamedproduct.

FOCUSFARFOCUS

5.Technicalnotes..................................... 15 • Propertymanagementobjectives • Farmresources • Fertilisermanagement • Soilmanagement • Preventingnutrientsandsedimentsfrom gettingintowater • Waterways

6.Appendices............................................. 24

1.Background• Nutrientmanagementplans

• Nutrientplanninglinkages

Background

Farmingpracticeshaveimpactsonwater,soilsandgreenhousegasemissions.Farmersallaroundtheworldareunderincreasingpressuretoreducetheirenvironmentalfootprintbyminimisingnutrientlossesandemissionsfromtheirland.Lostnutrientsareacosttoboththefarmbusinessandtheenvironment.

AllNewZealandershaveacommoninterestinensuringourfreshwaterlakes,rivers,aquifersandwetlandsaremanagedwisely.Theyarepartofournaturalheritage,contributingtoourwell-beingand

mustbepreservedforfuturegenerations.ByworldstandardsNewZealand’swaterqualityishigh,butnutrientlossfromourfarmsishavingasignificantimpact.Nitrogenandphosphorusdrivefarmproductivitybutwhentheyleachorwashintofreshwatertheybecomeenvironmentalpollutants,reducingthequalityofthewaterinourlakesandriversandharmingfreshwatereco-systems.

Farmersareunderpressurefromregionalcouncils,industryandenvironmentalgroups,andthepublictominimisenutrientlosses.AnumberofnationalobjectivesthroughtheNationalPolicyStatementforFreshWaterandtheLandandWaterForumareinplacethatwillimpactonfarmers.Theseincludethesettingofnutrientloadlimitsforcatchmentsbyregionalcouncilsandtheirrequirementsforfarmerstohavenutrientmanagementplans.Industrypartnerships,suchastheDairyingandCleanStreamsAccord,arefocussingonreducingtheimpactsofdairyingonfreshwaterquality.

Itisessentialthatfarmersunderstandthepotentialeffectoftheirmanagementpracticesonwaterresources,andthattheyusearangeofpracticestominimisenutrientlossestotheenvironment.

Nutrientmanagementplanningisaprocessthatfarmerscanusetoassesstheeffectivenessoftheirnutrientmanagementpracticesandtheriskofenvironmentaldamagefromnutrientlossesfromtheirland.

Thisnutrientmanagementplanchecklistandtemplatehasbeendevelopedthroughout2011and2012byNewZealandcroppingfarmersforNewZealandcroppingfarms.TheactivecomponentsoftheplancanbedownloadedfromtheFARwebsitewww.far.org.nz.

Inthefuture,weexpectthenutrientmanagementplanforcroppingfarmerswillbeavailablethroughsomededicatedsoftware.

NutrientmanagementplansTherearetwowaysthatenvironmentalperformancecanbeimproved.

InputcontrolsWherefarminputsarecappedandcontrolledbyregulatorybodies,orbythebetteroption;

OutputreportingWherefarmerscontroltheirinputsthroughmanagementpracticesandtheyreportonthenutrientoutputsfromtheirfarmingsystems.

Thenutrientmanagementplanisthetoolforthispurpose.

Background 3

ThisFARFocusisdesignedtoprovideyouwithinformationaboutnutrientmanagementplanningforyourarablefarmAnutrientmanagementplanisapersonalisedbusinessdocumentforyourfarm.Itisuniquetoyourfarmaseveryfarmisdifferentandeveryfarmerhasdifferentbusinessobjectives.Itisyourplananditneedstobedevelopedandimplementedtoworkforyou.

Yournutrientmanagementplanwillhighlightpracticeswhichcanbeimplementedtooptimisetheuseofnutrients.Lossesfromleachingandrun-offwillbereducedtogiveyoubettercostefficienciesandbetterenvironmentaloutcomes.

Tobeaneffectivefarmmanagementtool,yournutrientmanagementplanrequiresyourinput.Itneedstoberevisitedandupdatedannuallytodeliverbenefitstoyourbusiness.Itrequiresyoutoidentifywhatcanrealisticallybedoneonyourfarmwiththeavailableresources,andtodevelopaplantoimplementchange.Itislikelythatallregulatoryauthoritieswillrequirefarmerstohaveanutrientmanagementplaninthefuture.Thisisalreadyinplaceinsomeregions.

Anumberofpeoplecanhelpyoudevelopanutrientmanagementplan.Theseincludefarmemployees,farmconsultantsandfertilisercompanyconsultants.

Insummary:Yournutrientmanagementplanis:• isapersonalisedbusiness documentforyourfarm;

• isdevelopedwithyourinput;

•andimplementedbyyou;

•anactionplantooptimisesthe useofnutrientsonyourfarm forbetterproductivityand environmentalbenefits.

Nutrientplanninglink

ages

Catch

men

tPlan

Who

lefarmplan

Nutrientm

anag

emen

tplan

Nutrientbudgeting

Soiltestingand

monitoring

4 Background

Thecatchm

entp

lansetsth

eob

jectivesforthecatchm

ent.Itusually

focusesonwaterquality,butm

ightinclud

eotherenvironm

entaland

econom

icobjectives.A

lltheland

withinth

ecatchm

entisconsidered.

Thewholefarm

planconsidersthefullrangeofactivitiesbeingund

er-

takenonth

efarm

,oftenfro

manenvironm

entalperspective.They

mayinclud

eactionplansforsoilerosion,biodiversityenhancement,

animalwelfareand

wetland

and

riparianmanagem

ent.

Anutrientm

anagem

entp

lanconsidersthewholefarm

.Itinvolves;

•Settingbusinessobjectives–economic,environm

entalandsocial.

•Perform

ingariskassessmentforth

esustainablemanagem

ent

ofnutrients.

•Decidingonaplanofaction–includ

ingtim

efra

mesand

costs.

•Keepingre

cordsthatareaud

itablebyaninde

pend

entthirdparty.

Thenutrientbud

getcom

parescrop

inpu

tswithcropoutputs,

partitioningthenutrientsbetweenthecrop

and

theenvironm

ent.

Nutrientbud

getsarecom

pletedforland

managem

entu

nitsatthe

endofth

eseason.O

VER

SEE

R®isonenutrientbud

getingtoolth

at

hasbe

endevelop

edforNZfarm

s.

Soiltestsand

soilqualitymeasurementsprovideth

ebasisfor

riskassessmentform

anagingnutrientsandmaintainingth

esoil

prod

uctivity.T

heyprovideevidenceth

atth

eNMPisdeliveringon

itsobjectives.

2.Introduction• WhydoIneedanutrientmanagementplan?

• Whatisanutrientmanagementplan?

• Whatshouldmynutrientmanagementplaninclude?

• Themostimportantpart-makingithappen!

Background

WhydoIneedanutrientmanagementplan?TheycansaveyoumoneyAnutrientmanagementplan(NMP)iscustom-madeforyourfarm.Itwillhelpyouutilisenutrientsmoreefficiently,butthereismoretoefficientnutrientmanagementthanjustgettingthefertiliserinputsright.

Althoughfertiliserisakeysourceforthenutrientsutilisedbyyourcrop,thereareothernutrientsourcesandmanagementfactorsinvolved.Considerationmustalsobegiventosoilandstockmanagement,irrigationandtheuseofwintercrops.Fertiliserresponsewillbebettermanagedifallthesefactorsaretakenintoconsideration,andimprovedefficiencieswillproviderealsavings.

AwellthoughtoutNMPmakesgoodbusinesssense.

MarketassuranceAnaccreditedandapprovednutrientmanagementplandemonstratesthatyouarecapablyaddressingthepotentialenvironmentalimpactsofyourbusiness.Thisisanincreasinglyimportantconsiderationintermsofmarketqualityassuranceprogramsandgovernmentregulation.

NutrientmanagementplanswillmeetregionalcouncilrulesRegionalcouncilsarechargedwithmonitoringandprotectingournaturalresourcesincludingthequalityofwaterways.Scientificmonitoringhasshownadeclineofwaterqualityinlowlandrivers,lakesandgroundwatersystems,andregionalcouncilsaretakingstepstohaltthedecline.Forexample,EnvironmentWaikatoandHorizonsRegionalCouncilnowrequireanyoneusingmorethan60kgN/ha/yeartohaveaNMP.Otherregionalcouncilsarelikelytoimplementsimilarrules,solet’sstayaheadofthegame.

Whatisanutrientmanagementplan?Anutrientmanagementplanisawrittendocumentwhichdescribeshowmajornutrients(N,P,K,S,andothersofimportancetospecialistcrops)willbemanagedannually.Itisimplementedtooptimiseproductivity,reducenutrientlossesandaddressanypotentialadverseeffectsontheenvironment.

Weneedtorememberthatournutrientpracticesmustbemanagedallyearroundforcrops,stockgrazingandlandthatisbeingfallowed.

Whatshouldmynutrientmanagementplaninclude?Anutrientmanagementplanmustidentifyyourfarmgoalsandobjectives,thefarmresourcesandthesignificanceofanyriskareas.Itshouldidentifytheactionstobetakenandrecordstobekept.

$$$inthebank.

Anutrientmanagementplanmakesgoodbusinesssenseaswellashelpingyoutomeetregionalcouncilregulations.

Anutrientmanagementplanismorethanjustanutrientbudgetoffertiliserinputs.Itaddressesarangeofmanagementoptionstoincreaseproductivity,andreducenutrientlossesandenvironmentaleffects.

Agoodnutrientmanagementplanstartswithafarmmapandaccuraterecordingkeeping.

Accesstomarkets.

Introduction6 Introduction

Afarmmapisausefulstartingpointforanutrientmanagementplan.Ifyoudonotalreadyhaveafarmmap,werecommendyoudevelopone.Itdoesn’thavetobealargetaskandthereareguidelinesinthetechnicalnotesonwhatshouldbeincluded.Farmmappingservicesarewidelyavailable(seeResources).

Goodrecordmanagementisakeypartofnutrientmanagement.YourNMPshouldhavecopiesof,orreferencetothelocationof,thefollowingdocuments:

• Nutrientmanagementchecklist(seenext)• Soilsamplingprotocols• Soiltestresults• Fertiliserrecommendations• Fertiliserinputs• Nutrientbudgets• Soilmoisturemonitoringandirrigationinputs• Actionsrequired• Identifiedareasofresponsibility• Recordsofmonitoringofoutcomes

Keepthisinformationinasafelocation.Youmaywishtokeepthisinformationtogetherinaspecificnutrientmanagementfolder,alongsidesupportinginformation.

Farmmanagementsoftwareiswidelyavailable.

ThenutrientmanagementchecklistThechecklistwilltakeyouthroughtheissuesthatasanarablefarmeryouneedtoconsider.

Thechecklistisaseriesofquestionsrelatingtodifferenttopics,eachwithaYES/NOanswer.Notalltopicsmayberelevanttoyou.Therearetechnicalnotesforeachquestionwithmoredetailsexplainingwhyitisimportanttogetitright.

Theredboxesonthechecklistalertyoutowhereactionmayberequiredbutyouneedtocomeupwiththebestsolutionforyourfarm.

Themostimportantpart-makingithappen!Anutrientmanagementplanisnotjustaboutcollectingbitsofpaper.Itinvolvesactiononthoseissuesidentifiedinthechecklist.

• Settimeframestoimplementsolutionsforissuesidentifiedinthe checklistandfollowitthrough.• Communicatetheactionstoyourstaffandcontractors.• Reviseyourplanannuallytomonitorprogressandidentifyany newissuesthatneedaddressing.

Usethenutrientmanagementchecklisttoidentifyissuesandthinkaboutsolutions.

Anutrientmanagementplanneedsactionsfortheissuesidentifiedinthechecklist.

Introduction 7Introduction

3.ResourcesThissectionprovidesinformationonresources.Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetoensuretheinformationisascompleteaspossible,itmaynotincludeallsuppliersofresourcesandthecontactdetailsmaychangefromthedateofpublishing.

Resources

NutrientmanagementtoolsCodeofPracticeforNutrientManagement,FertResearch,(providesBestManagementPracticechecklistforNandP,aswellasatemplateforproducingaNutrientManagementPlan).www.fertresearch.co.nz

Fertmarkisanindependentlyassessedfertiliserqualityassuranceprogramme.www.fertqual.co.nz

Spreadmarkcertifiedoperators.www.fertqual.co.nz

DEFRA,8thEditionoftheFertiliserManual.www.defra.gov.uk/rb209

AmaizeNForecastingsoftwareforyieldandNfertiliserofmaizesilageandgraincrops.www.far.org.nz

WheatCalculatorForecastingsoftwareforyield,Nfertiliserandirrigationofwheatcrops.www.far.org.nz

IrrigationmanagementtoolsAquatrac™irrigationcalculator.

FarmmappingFrontiermapping www.frontiermapping.co.nzWMCfarmmapping www.farmmap.co.nzCRSfarmmapping www.crssoftware.co.nzFarmworks www.farmworkspfs.co.nzFarmmappingNZ www.farmmapping.co.nzRMTech www.rmtech.co.nzMosaicmapping www.mosaicmap.co.nzRuralmapping www.ruralmapping.co.nzLandVision www.landvision.co.nzNZCentreforPrecisionAgriculture www.nzcpa.co.nz

SoilmappingLandVision www.landvision.co.nzNZCentreforPrecisionAgriculture www.nzcpa.co.nzAgriOptics www.agrioptics.co.nzWheresmycows www.wheresmycows.com

PublishedsoilmapsLandCareResearch www.mwpress.co.nzS-mapOnline www.smap.landcareresearch.co.nzRegionalCouncils

SoiltestingservicesAnalyticalResearchLaboratories www.ravensdown.co.nzHillLaboratories,Hamilton www.hill-labs.co.nzNZLabs,Hamilton www.nzlabs.co.nz

SoilmoisturemonitoringservicesandequipmentHydro-Services www.hydroservices.co.nzAgFirst www.agfirst.co.nzFruition www.fruition.net.nzWaterForce www.waterforce.co.nzWaterDynamics www.waterdynamics.co.nzAquaflex www.streatsahead.comFruitFedSupplies www.fruitfed.co.nz

RegionalanddistrictcouncilsYourlocalregionalordistrictcouncilisavaluablesourceofinformation.Checktheirwebsitesforspecificinformationabouttheirenvironmentalrulesforyourregion.Theyalsoprovideinformationabouttheservicesthatareavailableinyourregion.

NorthIslandNorthlandRegionalCouncil www.nrc.govt.nzAucklandCouncil www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nzWaikatoRegionalCouncil (EnvironmentWaikato) www.ew.govt.nzBayofPlentyRegionalCouncilwww.envbop.govt.nzGisborneDistrictCouncil www.gdc.govt.nzHawke’sBayRegionalCouncil www.hbrc.govt.nzManawatu-WanganuiRegionalCouncil(Horizons) www.horizons.govt.nzTaranakiRegionalCouncil www.trc.govt.nzGreaterWellingtonRegionalCouncil www.gw.govt.nz

SouthIslandCanterburyRegionalCouncil (EnvironmentCanterbury) www.ecan.govt.nzOtagoRegionalCouncil www.orc.govt.nzSouthlandRegionalCouncil (EnvironmentSouthland) www.es.govt.nzWestCoastRegionalCouncil www.wcrc.govt.nzMarlboroughDistrictCouncil www.marlborough.govt.nzTasmanDistrictCouncil www.tasman.govt.nzSelwynDistrictCouncil www.selwyn.govt.nz

DairyingandCleanStreamsAccordwww.mfe.govt.nz/issues/land/rural/dairying-accordDairyNZ www.dairynz.co.nzBeef&Lamb www.beeflambnz.comHortNZ www.hortnz.co.nzNZGAP www.newzealandgap.co.nz

NewZealandWaterEnvironmentResearchFoundationSustainableDrainageManagementwww.waternz.org.nz/documents/publications/books_guides/fieldguide_final.pdf

Resources 9

4.Thenutrientmanagementchecklist• Propertymanagement

• Fertilisermanagement

• Soilmanagement

• Watermanagement

Thenutrientmanagementchecklist10 Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

ThenutrientmanagementchecklistThischeck-listdoesnotcompriseafullfarmnutrientmanagementplan.

Ifyouarestartingout,usethechecklisttoworkthroughallthecomponentsofyourfarmsystemthatwillbeincludedinafullnutrientmanagementplan.Taketimetoconsideryouranswersandrefertothetechnicalnotesformoreinformation.Thechecklistwillenableyoutoquicklypin-pointareasormanagementpracticesonyourfarmthatcouldbeimproved.Useitasabuildingblocktoleadyoutoimprovedsustainability.Technicalnotesrelatingtoeachquestionareprovidedafterthetables.

Ifyouareemployingsomeoneelsetodevelopanutrientmanagementplan,usethischecklistforguidancewhenconsideringtheplantheyaredeveloping.

Thebuildingblocksforawhole-farmnutrientmanagementplanUsetheinformationinthecompletedchecklisttoidentifyareasthatneedattentiononyourfarm.

Developafullnutrientmanagementplanforyourfarmbyfollowingthesesteps.

Step3 Whole-farmnutrientmanagementplan developedandinaction. Staffandcontractorsonboard. Record-keepingsystemmaintained. Progressreviewedannually.

Step2 Consideryourremedialactions: Determinetheactivitiesthatwillbeinvolved,thetimeframe forcompletingthejobandthecostofdoingso. Developadetailedplanforthework. Documenttheannualactivitiesandthecosts.

Step1 Workthroughthechecklistbyyourselforwithyourconsultantoradvisor.Refertothe resourcepagefortoolstouseorpeoplewhocanprovideadvice.Manyofthesearefree. Usethechecklisttoprioritiseareasofwork. Thechecklistmightindicateseveralareasthatneedattention,considerthesize ofthejobandyourresources.

Thenutrientmanagementchecklist 11Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

ThechecklistYourpersonalandbusinessgoalsdeterminehowyoumanagethefarm.

PROPERTYMANAGEMENT YES NO

1 Haveyouconsideredandsetproductionobjectivesforyourfarm?

2 Haveyouconsideredandsetenvironmentalobjectivesforyourfarm?

3 Haveyouconsideredandsetsocialobjectivesforyourbusiness?

4 Areyouawareofyourregionalcouncil’scurrentnutrientmanagementrequirements?

5 Areyouawareofyourindustryorcustomers’currentnutrientmanagementrequirements?

FARMRESOURCES YES NO

6Doyouhaveafarmmapwithdetailsoflandmanagementunits,soiltypesandsignificantenvironmentalareas?

7Doesyourmapshowwherethenutrienthot-spotsare?Theseinclude;silagepits,offalpits,farmdumps,feedpads,fertiliserstores,effluentponds,stockyards,stockcamps,stockwinteringareas,flatareasatthebottomofacatchmentandwashdownareas.

FertilisermanagementManageyourfertiliserinputstoachieveyouryieldobjectivesandminimiselossestotheenvironment.

FERTILISERMANAGEMENT YES NO

8Doyoufollowthebestmanagementpracticesfortransporting,storing,applyinganddisposingoffertilisersasrecommendedinFertresearch’sCodeofpracticefornutrientmanagementwww.fertresearch.org.nz?

9Doyouuseaqualifiedpersonwhousesanappropriatenutrientmanagementtooltoprepareyourfertiliserrecommendations?

10Doyouuseacropcalculatororpreviousresearchdatatodeterminefertiliserapplicationratesanddates?

11 Doyoufollowthefertiliserrecommendationswithrespecttorateandtiming?

12Doyourecordyourfertiliserinputs,includingtherateandproductusedandtheapplicationdate?

13 Doyouuseanutrientbudgettoassesscumulativenutrienteffectsonyourfarm?

14DoyoucalibrateyourfertiliserapplicationequipmentoruseaFertMarkcertifiedoperator?

15 Doyoumatchyournitrogenapplicationstotimesofrapidplantgrowth?

16Ifyouareinahighrainfallarea,doyousplityourNfertiliserapplicationstoreduceleaching?

17 Doyouapplylessthan30kgN/haduringwinter(MaytoJuly)?

FERTILISERMANAGEMENT-Organicsourcescomposts/manures/effluents YES NO

18 Doyoutestandrecordthenutrientcontentofanyorganicfertilisersbeforeapplication?

19 Doyoutestandrecordthenutrientcontentofeffluentbeforeapplication?

20Ifyouapplyeffluent,isitataratethatmeetsyourlocalregionalcouncilrequirementsfornutrientconcentrations?

Thenutrientmanagementchecklist12 Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

SoilmanagementAstrategytoimproveoratleastmaintainyoursoilqualitywillimproveyourprofitability.

SOILTESTING YES NO

21 Doyoucollectsoiltestsfromeachofyourlandmanagementunitsevery1-3years?

22 Doyouhavedocumentedsoilsamplingprotocols(samplingpatterns)?

23 Doyoukeepcopiesofallyoursoiltests?

24 DoyouusesoilmineralNteststodeterminefertiliserNinputs?

25 IsyoursoilOlsenP(0-15cm)lessthan40µg/ml?

26DoyouregularlymonitorandrecordchangesinyoursoilstructurebyusingasoilassessmenttoolsuchasVSA?

SOILMANAGEMENT YES NO

27Dominimiserun-offanderosionbymatchingyourcultivationstothesoiltypeandlandcontour?

28Doyoucultivateandplantacrossthecontourofslopinggroundratherthanupanddownit?

29 Doyouhavedrainagesystemsforyourheavy-mediumsoils?

30Doyoursoilandirrigationmanagementsystemspreventpondingduringrainandirrigation?

31 Doyouusereducedtillagetechniqueswheneverpossible?

32 Doyoumanagegrazingstocktopreventpuggingandcompaction?

33 Doyouremovecompactedorpuggedareasbeforeestablishingthenextcrop?

34 Doyouusecovercrops,whenrestingpaddocksinyourcroprotations?

Thenutrientmanagementchecklist 13Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

WatermanagementPreventingnutrientsandsedimentsgettingintowater.

IRRIGATION YES NO

35 Doyouirrigate?(Iftheanswerisno,proceedtoquestion41)

36Doyouhaveresourceconsenttoirrigateandifso,doyoumeettherequirementsofthisconsent?

37 Haveyouinstalledwatermeters?

38 Isyourirrigationmanagedtoimproveefficiencyandreducerun-off?

39Doyouusetoolssuchassoilmoisturemonitoringorsoilwaterbudgetstoscheduleirrigation?

40 Doesthewaterinfiltrateyoursoilswithoutanysurfaceponding?

41 Doyouapplylessthan50mmofirrigationinanyoneapplication?

42 Doyouregularlycheckforandrepairleaksandworncomponentsinyoursystem?

WATERWAYS YES NO

43Doyouleavea2mmarginbetweenyourcultivationandanywaterway(excludesephemeralstreams)?

44 Doyouhaveriparianplantingsonwaterwayboundaries?

45Doyouhavedrainsand/orusecontouringtoeliminatethemovementofwateracrossyourpaddocksduringheavyrain?

46Doyouhavegrassfiltrationstripsaroundthepaddockboundariesandatwater-wayedgestocatchsediments?

47 Doyoupreventfertiliserenteringwaterwaysduringspreading?

48 Areyourstreamanddrainbanksfreefromerosion?

49 Isthewaterfromsub-surfacedrainspreventedfromflowingdirectlyintoawaterways?

50 Arestockexcludedfromwaterways?

DefinitionAwater-wayiscommonlydefinedasbeing“widerthanastride,anddeeperthanaredbandgumboot.”

Ephemeralstreams(intermittentwaterwayswhichmayonlybepresentinwinter)areexcluded.Note:Someregionalcouncilshavespecific‘legal’definitionswhichapplytotheirregulations.Alwayschecktherequirementsofyourregionalcouncil.

Oncethechecklisthasbeencompleted:Checkoutthenumberofquestionsthatyouhaveanswered“no”to.Thesewillbetheareasthatneedremedialactiononyourfarm.

Effectiveremedialactionneedstoinclude:• Detailsofwhatneedstobechanged• Anactionplandetailingwhatisgoingtobedone, withthecostsandtime-frameconsidered.

14 Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

5.Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist• Propertymanagementobjectives

• Farmresources

• Fertilisermanagement

• Soilmanagement

• Preventingnutrientsandsedimentsfromgettingintowater

• Waterways

Thenutrientmanagementchecklist

Propertymanagementobjectives1.Haveyouconsideredandsetproductionobjectivesforyourfarm?TheproductionobjectivessetbyyouforyourcropsinkgDM/haorT/hadeterminethelevelofinputs,bothnutrientandwater,thatwillberequiredtomeettheyielddemand.Thesemayalsobereferredtoasproductivitytargets.

2.Haveyouconsideredandsetenvironmentalobjectivesforyourfarm?Theenvironmentalobjectivesforthefarmprovideaframeworkfortheenvironmentalplanningforyourfarm.Thismightincludedevelopment,conservationorremediationofenvironmentalareasonyourfarm.Examplesofenvironmentalareasareareasofnativebushandwetlands.Beef&LambLandandEnvironmentPlanningareanexampleofenvironmentalplanning.(www.beeflambnz.com/farm/tools-resources/land-and-environment-planning-toolkit).

3.Haveyouconsideredandsetsocialobjectivesforyourbusiness?Socialobjectivesdeterminethelevelofwell-beingofyourself,yourfamilyandyourstaff.Thesemayincludesuchthingsas:• Exposuretorisk• Education• Retirementandsuccessionplanning• Stafftrainingandeducation• Time-outfromthebusiness

4.Areyouawareofyourregionalcouncil’scurrentnutrientmanagementrequirements?Currentinformationaboutyourresponsibilitiesasalandmanagerisavailablefromyourlocaldistrictorregionalcouncil.Itisimportantthatyouknowthedetailsofyourregionalplanthatspecificallyrelatetoyourbusiness.

Forexample,ifyouarefarmingintheWaikatoandareapplyingmorethan60kgN/ha/year,youmusthaveanutrientmanagementplan.HorizonsRegionalCouncilrequiresfarmerstopreparenutrientbudgets.Otherregionalcouncilsarereviewingtheirnutrientmanagementrequirements,itisimportanttokeepuptodatewithyourcouncil’sregionalrequirements.

5.Areyouawareofyourindustryorcustomers’currentnutrientmanagementrequirements?Someofyourcustomersmighthavespecificrequirementsaroundnutrientmanagement.Iftheirrequirementsaren’tmet,youmayfindthattheywillnotacceptyourproduct.IndustryexamplesoftheseincludeNZGAP,theSilverFernFarmsfarmassuranceprogrammesandtheDairyingandCleanStreamsAccord.

Farmresources6.Doyouhaveafarmmapwithdetailsoflandmanagementunits,soiltypesandsignificantenvironmentalareas?

7.Doesyourmapshowwherenutrienthot-spotsare?Theseinclude;silagepits,offalpits,farmdumps,feedpads,fertiliserstores,effluentponds,stockyards,stockcamps,stockwinteringareas,flatareasatthebottomofacatchmentandwashdownareas.

Thefarmmapshouldincludelandmanagementunits,soiltypes,paddockboundaries,farmtracks,buildings,sensitiveareasandnutrienthotspots.• Landmanagementunitsareparcelsofthefarmthat

aresimilarinsoiltype,contour,managementetc.Managementunitsmaybeindividualpaddocksorgroupsofpaddocks.

• Soils-Thesoilnameislessimportantthanthepropertiesofthesoil,suchasitstexture(sand,silt,clay,peat),drainagecharacteristics(poorlydrained,freedraining),andthepotentialrootingdepth(depthtostones,watertable,ironpanetc).Yourregionalcouncilshouldhavecopiesofsoilmapsforyourregion.Youcangetagoodideaofthedifferencesinsoiltypeonyourfarmbydiggingaseriesofsoilpits,toatleastthedepthoftherootingzone.Tactileexaminationofthesoilswilldetermineiftheyaresands,siltsorclays.Problemswithdrainagemaybeseenasblue-greybandsintheprofile.Regular,recordedvisualsoilassessments(VSA)providevaluabledataaboutchangesinyoursoil’squality.Electro-magnetic(EM)surveyscantellyouaboutpaddockscalevariationinsoilproperties;thisisastartingpointforvariablemanagementfornutrientsandirrigation.EMmappingisaprocessthatmapstherelativeconductivityofthesoilsinyourpaddock.Soilpropertiesthatinfluenceconductivityinclude;soiltexture,soilmoisture,cationexchangecapacity,bulkdensityandsalinity.Thereisalinkbetweenthesoil’sconductivityanditswaterholdingcapacity.

• Environmentallysensitiveareasincludingretiredareas,steepslopes,wetlands,nativebush,andwaterways(streams,drains,ponds,lakes).

• Nutrienthotspotsincludeoffalpits,farmdumps,effluentponds(currentandhistoric),silagestacks,firesites,wash-downareasandareaswherewaterponds.

• Areaswherefarmeffluentsareregularlyapplied.

Rubbishandoffalholesareasourceofnutrients,bacteriaandothercontaminantswhichcanleachintowaterwaysandgroundwater.Appropriateplacementanddepthoffarmdumpsandoffalpitsisimportanttominimisenutrientsgettingintowaterbodies.It’sprobablynotpracticaltomoveexistingdumpsoroffalholes,butyoushouldcarefullyconsiderpotentialenvironmentaleffectswheninstallingnewones.Checkyourregionalcouncilregulationsandrequirements.

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist16 Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

ManycompaniesprovidefarmmappingservicesoryoucoulduseGoogleMapsorGoogleEarthtodevelopyourownplan.

Fertilisermanagement8.Doyoufollowthebestmanagementpracticesfortransporting,storinganddisposingoffertilisersasrecommendedinFertresearch’sCodeofpracticefornutrientmanagement(www.fertresearch.org.nz)Fertilisershouldbestoredoutoftheweather,preferablyonapalletandonaconcretefloortomaintainitsqualityandtopreventnutrientlosses.Donotstorefertilisersandfueltogether-theycanbeavolatilemix!

The‘CodeofPracticeforNutrientManagement’hasmoreinformationonfertiliserstorage,useandapplication.

9.Doyouuseaqualifiedpersonwhousesanappropriatenutrientmanagementtooltoprepareyourfertiliserrecommendations?

10.Doyouuseacropcalculatororpreviousresearchdatatodeterminefertiliserapplicationratesanddates?Theinterpretationofsoiltestresultsinrelationtocropdemandmustconsiderfactorssuchas;location,soiltype,sowingtime,cropspeciesandcultivar,andplantpopulation.Environmentaleffectsmustbeconsideredalongsidethecropresponse.

Therearemanyconsultantswhocanpreparefertiliserrecommendationsforyou.ItisrecommendedthatyouchooseaccreditedadvisorswhohavecompletedtheIntermediateandAdvancedshortcourseson“SustainableNutrientManagementinNewZealandAgriculture”,whichfocusonnutrientmanagementforthebesteconomicandenvironmentaloutcomes.

ComputerbaseddecisionsupporttoolssuchastheWheatCalculatorandAmaizeNhavebeendesignedspecificallyforwheatandmaize.Theyusesoil,weatherandsoiltestinformationtopredicttheNfertiliserrequirementsforthecrop,andpredictyieldandharvestdate.

Regardlessofwhopreparesyourfertiliserrecommendationandnutrientmanagementplan,makesureyoukeepacopyofit.

11.Doyoufollowthefertiliserrecommendationswithrespecttorateandtiming?Theremaybeverygoodreasonstodeviatefromyourfertiliserrecommendations.Seasonalconditionsorfertiliserpricesmightcauseyoutoreconsideryourrequirements.Whateverthereasonforthechange,makesureyourecorditandwhatyouractualapplicationswere.

12.Doyourecordyourfertiliserinputs,includingtherateandproductusedandtheapplicationdate?Keepingthisinformationwillhelpyouinterpretchangesinsoilnutrientstatusandcompilenutrientbudgets.Forallfertiliserapplicationsensurethatyourecord:• Thecalibrationdetailsofyourapplication equipment.• Ifusingacontractor,who,andiftheyare FertMarkcertified.• Thetypeoffertiliserandtherateapplied.• Percentageofnitrogen,phosphorus,potassium andothernutrientsinthefertiliser(fertilisernames andformulationscanchange).• Where,whenandhowitwasapplied.Ifthe spreadercanprovideanapplicationmap,keepit asrecord.Yourcontractorcansupplyyouwith applicationmaps.

PhotocourtesyofEllesmereTransportCoLtd

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist 17Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

Don’trelyonyourfertilisersuppliertodothis.Theycanonlytellyouthetotalfertiliserthey’vesupplied,notwhereorhowmuchhasbeenapplied.

13.Doyouhaveanutrientbudgettoassesscumulativenutrienteffectsonyourfarm?Anutrientbudgetdescribesandquantifiesallthenutrientinputs(e.g.fertilisers)andoutputs(e.g.cropremovalandNleaching).NutrientbudgetsareoftenbestpreparedusingcomputerbasedtoolssuchastheWheatCalculator,AmaizeNandOVERSEER®nutrientbudgets.OVERSEER®hasmodulesforpastoralfarms,fruitcropsandarableandvegetablecrops.Itworksretrospectively,i.e.thenutrientbudgetreferstothecropthathasbeenrecentlyharvested.

Youcandevelopyourownsimplenutrientbudgetforsomecropsbyworkingoutthequantityofnutrientsthatwillberemovedasgrain,seedorforageandthequantityofnutrientsneededtomatchthisremovalandanynormallossesorinefficienciesofthecroppingsystem.

PrintouttheNutrientBudgetreportforinclusioninyournutrientmanagementplan.

14.DoyoucalibrateyourfertiliserapplicationequipmentoruseaSpreadmarkcertifiedoperator?Ifyouaredoingyourownfertiliserapplication,calibrateyourspreader,drilland/orside-dresserregularlytoensuretheapplicationrateiscorrect.Checkthatyourapplicationpatterniseven.Calibrationinvolvescheckingthatthespreaderisdeliveringtherightweightorvolumeoffertilisertoaknownarea.

Ifusingacontractor,checkthattheyareSpreadmarkcertified.Spreadmarkaccreditedoperatorshaveindependentlytestedmachinery,auditedproceduresandtraineddrivers.SpreadmarkisaschemerunbytheNewZealandFertiliserQualityCouncil.

Precisionspreading,usingGPSandGISsystems,hasenabledcommercialfertiliserspreaders(groundandaerial)toachieveahighdegreeoffertiliserspreadingaccuracy.Thistechnologyenablesspreaderstocoverpreciseareaswithminimaloverlaporgapsbetweenspreadingrunsandtoachieveaccuratebuffersbetweentargetandnon-targetareas.Manyspreadershaveheadlandcontroltoensureevenspreadingacrossthewholepaddock.

15.Doyoumatchyournitrogenapplicationstotimesofrapidplantgrowth?Ifnitrogeninputsexceedtheuptakebythecrop,thereisariskthattherewillbelosses,eitherthroughleachingafterrainorbyvolatilisation.Toavoidthis,matchtheapplicationstotheperiodsofmostrapidgrowthinthecropandavoidtimeswhenthesoilsarecoldandwetorverydry.

Incropssuchaswheat,maize,ryegrassandoilseedrape,thereisverygoodscientificdataonhownitrogenisutilisedtomaximiseyield,relativetothegrowthstagesoftheplant.ThisinformationisbuiltintotheWheatCalculatorandAmaizeN,orisavailableinFAR’scroppingstrategydocumentsandArableUpdates;www.far.org.nz.

16.Ifyouareinahighrainfallarea,doyousplitNfertiliserapplications?Leachingisdrivenbydrainagefromhighrainfalleventsorirrigation.Checkweatherforecastsandavoidapplicationifheavyrainseemslikely.Lightsoiltypessuchassandsandsilts,orshallowsoilsoverstonesarepronetorapiddrainageandnitrogenlossesthroughleaching.Splitapplicationstomatchcropdemandmaybeaneffectivenutrientmanagementstrategyonthesesoils.

17.Doyouapplylessthan30kgN/haduringwinter(MaytoJuly)?Winterisoftenwhendrainageandleachingriskisgreatest;thereismorerain,lessevaporationand

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist18 Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

reducedcropuptake.Soiltemperaturesmayalsobetoocoolforanyplantuptake.Don’tapplyfertiliserswhenthesoiltemperatureislessthan4oC.Takecarewithresidualnitrogenandnitrogenapplicationsoverthisperiod.Lateautumnapplicationsthatmatchplantuptakearemoreeffectivethanwinterapplications.

18.Doyoutestandrecordthenutrientcontentofanyorganicfertilisersbeforeapplication?

19.Doyoutestandrecordthenutrientcontentofeffluentbeforeapplication?Justlikemineralfertilisers,materialssuchaschickenmanure,dairyeffluentorcompostwillcontainnutrients.Ifasked,suppliersshouldprovideacopyofthenutrientcontent.Iftheycan’tsupplythis,collectasampleyourselfforanalysis.

Togetarepresentativesamplefortesting,take10-12samplesfromtheheaporpondandmixthemtogether.Takeasub-samplefromthemixturefortesting.Ifsamplingfromtheeffluentpond,agitatetheeffluentbeforesampling.Thiswillproduceaslurrywithamorerepresentativesampleoftheeffluentnutrients.Ifsamplingfromafeedpadstoragefacilitywheretheyardisscraped,itmaybemoreappropriatetoprovideacompositesampletakenoveranextendedperiodoftimetogiveaveragevalues.

Calculateanappropriateapplicationrate.Beawarethatthenutrientlevelsineffluentareveryvariable,sothetestresultsareonlyaroughestimate.

Mostsoiltestinglabswillbeabletotestyourorganicfertilisersandmanyhavecustomkitsforeffluentsampling.

20.Doesyoureffluentapplicationratemeetyourlocalregionalcouncilrequirements?Checkwithyourlocalcounciltofindoutwhatthelocalrulesforeffluentapplicationsare.Measuretheapplicationratebyputtingoutcontainersduringtheapplicationandmeasuringthedepth.Multiplythevolumeappliedbythenutrientcontentoftheeffluenttodeterminethetotalnutrientapplication.

Theeasiestwaytodothisisputatleastfivecleanice-creamcontainersinthefieldtocollectproductduringapplication.Thiswillprovideyouwitharepresentativesampleaswellasgiveanindicationoftheapplicationrate.

Soilmanagement21.Doyoucollectsoiltestsfromeachofyourlandmanagementunitsevery1-3years?Itisimportanttomeasurethenutrientlevelsinyoursoilsthroughsoiltestingonaregularbasis.Yoursoiltestresultsprovideactualmeasurementofnutrientlevelsinyoursoils;these,withyourcropyields,provideyouwithevidenceabouthowwellyournutrientmanagementplanisworking.

Nutrientpredictionandbudgetingtoolsusethenutrientlevelsinyoursoils,toworkouthowmuch

fertiliserisneededtoreachtheproductiontargetsforyourcropswithminimallosses.Takesoiltestsbeforeyouplantfornutrientanalysis.FARfundedresearchhasshownthatthemostcosteffectiveapproachistosampleeachofyourlandmanagementunitsonanannualbasis.

22.Doyouhavedocumentedsoilsamplingprotocols(samplingpatterns)?Soilcanbequitevariable,evenoverashortdistance.Thewaythesoilsamplesarecollectedisimportantasithasanimpactonthetestresults.Tominimisevariabilityinsoiltests,collectthesoilsamplesatthesamedepth,usingthesamesamplingpattern,atthesametimeeachyear.

Thestandardsoilsamplingpatternisextremelyimportant.YoucanuseGPStomapyoursamplingpattern,butdiagonaltransectsbetweenmarkedfencepostscanbejustaseffective.Whenestablishingyoursamplingpattern,avoidgateways,hotspotsandotherabnormalareasinthepaddock.Theseshouldbemarkedonyourfarmmap!

Theequipmentrequiredis:a15cmcorerforbasicsoiltestsand/oranaugerfordeepmineralNtests(60cmdepth)plusabucketformixingthesamplesforacompositesub-sample,samplebagsthatseal,andlabels-useawater-resistantpenforlabelling.Samplesshouldbestoredinachillybinwithicetokeepthemcool.Ifyouareunabletotransportthemtothelabonthesameday,storetheminthefreezer.

Theremaybeahighturnoveroffertilisercompanyreps,whocommonlyundertakesoilsamplesonbehalfofgrowers,soyoushouldkeepacopyofthesamplingprotocolandmakesureeveryoneusesit.Youcanalsousethesamesamplingpatterntocollectherbagesamples.

23.Doyoukeepcopiesofallyoursoiltests?Regularsoiltestsarevaluablefortrackinglongtermchangesinsoilfertilitytherebyallowingyoutomakegooddecisionsaroundcapitaldressingsoflime,phosphorusandpotassiumetc.Mostfertilisercompanieswillkeepcopiesoftheresultsforyou,butit’sagoodideatokeepyourownasaback-up.

Partofaneffectivefarmmanagementplanincludesarecordkeepingsystem.Thismustbeeasyforallstafftoaccessanduseandhasaprovisionforsummaryreporting.

24.DoyouusesoilmineralNteststodeterminefertiliserNinputs?Nitrogenisthenutrientmostlikelytolimitcropyields,andthenutrientmostcommonlyappliedasfertiliser.Nitrogenalsohasthegreatestenvironmentalrisk,socaremustbetakentousetherightamount.TheWheatCalculatorandAmaizeNbothusesoilmineralNresultstodeterminefertiliserNinputs.ThisisalsocalledtheDeepNtest.

Becausemaizeandcerealsaredeeprooting,thedeeperwecancollectthesoilsamples,themore

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist 19Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

accurateourfertiliserrecommendationwillbe.CurrentlytherecommendationistotestforsoilmineralNto60cm,exceptindryregionsorshallowsoils,whereshallowersamplesareacceptable.

Aftercollection,thesamplesshouldbechilledimmediatelyandsubmittedtothesoillabassoonaspossible.Forautumnsownwheat,werecommendthesamplesarecollectedinlatewinter/earlyspringafterthewinterrains,andformaize,samplethreetofourweeksaftersowing(collectfromthemidrowtoavoidthefertiliserappliedatplanting).FurtherguidelinesforDeepNtestingareprovidedwiththeWheatCalculatorandAmaizeN,bothofwhichareavailablefromFAR.

25.IsyoursoilOlsenP(0-15cm)lessthan40µg/ml?TheOlsenPtestestimatesthelevelofplantavailableinorganicPinthesoil.ItcangivevariableresultsdependingonsoilcharacteristicssuchaspHandlevelsofsoilorganicmatter.ItdoesnotassesstheorganiccomponentofPinthesoil.

Cerealsandmaizedonotrequirelargeamountsofphosphorus.Forexample,maizeplantscontainlessthan0.2%phosphorus.Exceedingtheoptimumsoilfertilityrangedoesnotmakeeconomicsense.Mostphosphoruscontaminationoffreshwatercomesfromsoilsedimentsinrunoff.Thehighlevelsofphosphorusstimulateplantgrowthinthewaterandmayleadtotoxicalgaeblooms.HighsoilOlsenPlevelsmakenosenseeconomicallyorenvironmentally.

26.DoyouregularlymonitorandrecordchangesinyoursoilstructurebyusingasoilassessmenttoolsuchasVSA?Environmentalandeconomicsustainabilityofcroppingandpastoralfarmscanbegreatlyinfluencedbysoilquality.Thevisualsoilassessmentmethod(VSA)provideslandmanagerswithasimpletooltoassessandmonitorsoilquality.

VSAisbasedonthevisual,qualitativescoringofkeybio-physicalindicatorsofsoilquality,andincorporatedonaneasytousescorecard.Thesoilindicatorsincludeanassessmentoftexture,porosity,colourandthepresenceofsoilmottles.Thesoilindicatorsaresupportedbyplantperformanceindicatorsthatlinksoilconditiontocropproduction.Theindicatorsareunderpinnedbyextensiveresearchandarelinkedtoeconomicperformance.

ThevalueofVSAcomesfromrepeatassessmentsovertime,aschangestosoilscanbeslow.Keeparecordofyourassessmentforreference.Theserecordsarevaluableformonitoringimprovementstosoilsbroughtaboutbyachangeinthefarmmanagementsystems,orcapitalinvestmente.g.reducingtillageanddrainage.

VSAprovidesaneffectiveandimmediatewaytoassesssoilqualityquicklyandcheaplyinthefield.

InformationaboutVSAcanbeaccessedat:www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/soil/vsaandyourlocalregionalcouncil.

27.Doyouminimiserun-offanderosionbymatchingyourcultivationstothesoiltypeandlandcontour?Soilcaneitherbelostgraduallythroughwindandwatererosionorrapidlyduringmajorstormevents.Cultivationpracticessuchasstripandnotillagepreservethesoilstructureandreducethelikelihoodoferosion.Matchyourcultivationtothesoiltype;forexample,ifyoufarmonlight,wind-erodiblesoils,reduceyourcultivationintensitytopreventtopsoilbeinglostbywindandwateraction.

28.Doyoucultivateandplantacrossthecontourofslopinggroundratherthanupanddownit?Cultivateandplantalongthecontourorataslightangletoitratherthandirectlydowntheslope.Leavegrassfilterstripsacrosssteepslopestoslowwater

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist20 Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

flowandhelpdepositsedimentsbeforetheygetintowaterways.Contourcultivationprovidesbenefitsinlowrainfallareasbyslowingrun-offandincreasingabsorptionintothesoil.

Sedimenttrapsatthebaseofslopescanbeusedtocontainrun-offandpreventoff-siteimpacts.Howevertheyrequireregularmaintenanceanderodedsoilmustberemovedandspreadbackontotheland.

29.Doyouhavedrainagesystemsforyourheavy-mediumsoils?Ineffectivedrainageinheavysoilscancausewater-loggingandlossofsoilstructure.Anaerobicconditionsalsoexacerbatenitrousoxideemissions.

Signsofineffectivedrainageinclude:• Ponding.• Slowdryingwithsoilmottlingorange/greycolours.• Quickreturntoawaterloggedstate.• Patchesofpoorcropgrowth–plantsmayhave yellowleaves,indicatingnitrogendeficiency.• Restrictedrooting.• Increasedpestanddiseasedamage.

Poorlydrained,waterloggedsoilsaremorelikelytobecomecompacted.Thebestremediationisthroughdrainageandsecondarytreatmentssuchassub-soiling.Sub-soilersshatterandcrackcompactlayersimprovingdrainage.Themosteffectivetimetodothisiswhenthesoilisdrying.

30.Doyoursoilmanagementsystemsmaintainthesoilstructuretopreventpondingduringrainandirrigation?Pondingoccurswhenexcesswaterflowstolowlying,poordrainingpartsofthepaddock.Itisanindicationthattherainorwaterapplicationratefromtheirrigator,inmm/hr,isgreaterthantheabilityofthesoiltoabsorbit(infiltrationrate).Pondinghasadetrimentaleffectoncrop,thesoilbecomesanaerobicandrootsdie.Run-offfrompondedareascarriessoilsedimentsandnutrientsintowaterways,withnegativeimpactsforwaterquality.

31.Doyouusereducedtillagetechniqueswheneverpossible?Reducedtillagehasanumberofeconomicandenvironmentalbenefits.Thebenefitstothesoilincludelesscompaction,bettertrafficabilityandimprovedresiliencetoextremeweatherimpacts,suchasdroughtandheavyrainevents.Lesstimeonthetractorforcultivationequatestoeconomicgainsthroughimprovedmachineryandlabourutilisationanddirectsavingsfromreduceddieselusage.

Otherbenefitstothefarmsystemarereducedfallowtimesandtheutilisationofcropresiduesforweedmanagement.Farmersalsoneedtobeawareofpotentialnegatives,suchasincreasedpressurefromestablishmentpestsandthebuild-upofgrassweedsovertime.RefertoFARFocus-NonInversionAgronomy:GuidelinesforsuccessfulreducedtillageandFARFocus5-GrasstoCrop.

32.Doyoumanageanygrazingstocktopreventpuggingandcompaction?Keepstockoffwetsoilswhereverpossible.Intensivegrazingcancausepugging,compactionandlossofsoilquality.Thiswillaffectdrainageandincreaserun-offlosses.Thesoilwillneedmoreworktogetagoodseedbedforyournextcrop.Overtimeexcessivecultivationreducessoilstructureandsoilorganicmatter.

Damagecanbeminimisedbyconsideringwhenthelivestockwillbeontheland.Grazewetterpaddocksinthedrierpartoftheseasonoruselighterstockonwetpaddocks.Maintaingoodpasturecoverandmovestockbeforetheystripitdowntotheroots.Removeheavystocktoafeedpadforpartoftheday.RefertoDairyNZ’sfactsheetformoreinformation:www.dairynz.co.nz/file/fileid/37481.

33.Doyouremovecompactedorpuggedareasbeforeestablishingthenextcrop?Puggedsoilshave:• Poordrainage.• Poorplantgrowth.• Higherfertiliserrequirements.• Moretopsoilandcontaminantrun-offtowaterways.

Beforebeginninganyremediation,digaseriesofholesdownto0.5m,tolookforsurfacecrustingandcompactedlayersthroughtheprofile.Choosethecorrectremediationoptionbasedonthelevelofdamagetoyoursoil.Cultivationandaerationoperationsaeratethesoiltoadepthof150-200mm.Sub-soilingshattersdeepersubsoillayerstodepthsof200-350mmenablingdeeperrootgrowth.

34.Doyouusecovercropswhenrestingpaddocksinyourcroprotations?Wintergrassorcovercropshavemanyadvantages.Theycanprovideasourceofwinterfeedforstock.Theyreducesoilerosionandmopupanyexcessnutrientstherebyreducingleachinglossestotheenvironment.Deeprootingcovercropslikebrassicascanimprovecompactiondamageandincreasethesoil’spermeability.Legumesfixatmosphericnitrogenwhichbecomesavailableoncethecovercropisworkedin.

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist 21Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

Preventingnutrientsandsedimentsfromgettingintowater36.Doyouhavearesource-consenttoirrigateandifso,doyoumeettherequirementsofthisconsent?Checkwithyourlocalcounciltofindoutwhattheirirrigationconsentrulesare.

Theconsentrequirementswilldifferbetweenregionalcouncils,andpossiblybetweencatchmentswithinaregion.Itisyourresponsibilitytobefamiliarwiththerulesforyourregion.

Councilsneedtoknowwhenandhowmuchwaterisbeingusedtobeabletomanagetheresourceinafairandefficientway.Theycloselymonitorsurfaceandgroundwaterquantitiesandwillpenaliseanybreachesoftheconsentconditions.

37.Haveyouinstalledwatermeters?TheGovernmenthasmadewatermeteringmandatoryforallwaterusersextractingover5l/s.

Thedeadlineforcompliancedependsonyourallowedrateoftake:• 20litrespersecondormore: nolaterthan10November2012.• 10litrespersecondupto20litrespersecond: nolaterthan10November2014.• 5litrespersecondupto10litrespersecond: nolaterthan10November2016.

38.Isyourirrigationmanagedtooptimiseefficiencyandreducerun-off?Irrigationneedstobeefficientandeffectiveotherwisethecoststofarmbusinessandtheenvironmentarehigh.Under-wateringcausesreducedcropyieldsandover-wateringisawasteofwaterandmaycausenutrientstobelostthroughleachingandrunoff.Thisrequiresgoodsystemdesign,installation,operationandmaintenance.

Goodirrigationpracticesensurethereislittlechanceofdrainageandtheplantgrowthisoptimised.Optimisingplantgrowthoptimisesnutrientuptakeandtheriskofnutrientleachingisreduced.

Whenbuyinganewirrigator,ensurethatthecommissioningofthesystemincludesanirrigationaudittoensuretheprescribedstandardsarebeingmet.

Anirrigationauditidentifieshowefficientlyanirrigationsystemisworkingbycheckinghowwellthesystemisperformingandhowwellitisbeingmanaged.Performancecheckscovertheuniformityofthewaterdistributionandwillconsiderfiltrationandpumpefficiency.Managementcheckscovertheapplicationvolumesandtimingandmayincludeverifyingthattheregulatoryrequirementsarebeingmet.

39.Doyouusetoolssuchassoilmoisturemonitoring,orsoilwaterbudgetstoscheduleirrigation?Determiningwhenandhowmuchirrigationtoapplyisimportantforanumberofreasons.• Droughtstresscostsyield:Yieldandmoneyis savedwhenirrigationisscheduledbeforethecrop isincriticalmoisturedeficit.• Irrigationiscostly:Irrigatingbeforeitisnecessary, orapplyingtoomuchwater,orwaterinthewrong place,isawasteofmoney.• Irrigationmaycauseleaching:Nitrogenandother watersolublenutrientsmaybeleachedoutofthe rootzoneiftoomuchwaterisapplied.Deep rootingcerealsandmaizehaveabetter opportunitytousenutrientsfromdepththan shallowrootedcrops,suchaspastureandclover.

Giventheinvestmentinirrigationandthepotentialcostsofgettingitwrong,itisworthinvestingintoolsforschedulingirrigation.Therearemanyoptions,includingsoilmoisturebudgets,soilmoisturemonitoringtools,softwaresuchastheWheatCalculatorandAquaTRAC,oracomprehensiveprofessionalsoilmoisturemonitoringandschedulingservice(seeresources).

40.Doesthewaterinfiltrateyoursoils,withoutleavinganysurfaceponding?Compactedandpoorlydrainedsoilshaveareducedabilitytosoakupwater.Ifirrigatedwaterisappliedtooquicklyforabsorption,itwillrun-offandcollectinthelowpointsofthepaddock,causingponding.Heavyrainbehavesinthesameway.Pondingisanindicatorofdrainageproblemswhichmaybeduetocompactionorchangesinthesoiltypewithinthepaddock.Pondingmayoccursomedistancefromtheproblem.Identifyandremediatetheproblemormatchthewaterapplicationratetotheareaswiththeslowestinfiltration.

41.Doyouapplylessthan50mmofirrigationinanyoneapplication?Thesoil’scapacitytostorewaterisaffectedbyitsporosity,textureandstructure.Stonyandsandysoilsandthosewithloworganicmatterhavepoorwaterstorage.Oncethesoilreachesfieldcapacity,itcanholdnomoreanddrainageoccurs.Understandingthewater-holdingcapacityofyoursoilsisimportantformanagingirrigation.

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist22 Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

Irrigationvolumeshouldbetargetedtosupplywateronlytotherootzone,withnodrainagebelowit.Theamountofsoilwateravailabletoplantsisgovernedbythedepthofsoilthattherootscanexploreandthenatureofthesoilmaterial.Over-irrigatingwithlargevolumesofwater,sothereisdrainagebelowtherootzone,isawasteofwaterandmoney.

Deepsoilmoisturemonitoring(e.g.byneutronprobe)willshowyouhowfartheirrigationwaterismovinginthesoilprofileandthedepthitisbeingtakenupfrom.

42.Doyouregularlycheckfor,andrepairleaksandworncomponentsinyoursystem?Leakscancomefromsplitpipesorpoorconnections.Waterleakingfromthesystemisacostandmaycauseponding,erosion,runoffandleaching.

Wornnozzlesarelikeleakypipes;theydecreasethesystem’sefficiencyandincreasetheenergydemands.

Anirrigationauditwillcheckfortheseproblems.

Aminorimprovementinirrigationefficiencycanresultinmajorincreasesinavailablewaterandthecostbenefitofirrigation.

Waterways43.Doyouleavea2mmarginbetweenyourcultivationandanywaterway(excludesephemeralstreams)?Waterwaysaresensitivetonutrientcontaminationfromsurfacerun-off.Atwometrebufferzone,preferablygrassed,reducestheriskofsedimentsenteringwaterways.Steeperslopeswithfasterrun-offwillneedwiderbufferzones.Manyregionalplansstipulatetherequirementforbufferzonesforsedimentcontrol.

44.Doyouhaveriparianplantingsonwaterwayboundaries?Riparianbufferzonesarevegetatedareasalongtheedgesofwaterbodies.Theyactasbufferstoprotectsurfacewatersfromcontaminationfromrun-offandprotectthestreambanksfromerosion.Riparianplantsprovidehabitatsforavarietyofbirdsandinsects.Caremustbetakeninselectingspeciesforplantingtoensuretheywillnotincreasetheriskoffloodingorbehostsforpestsanddiseasesofyourcrops.

Yourregionalcouncilhasinformationaboutriparianmanagement.

45.Doyouhavedrainsand/orusecontouringtoeliminatethemovementofwateracrossyourpaddocksduringheavyrain?

46.Doyouhavegrassfiltrationstripsaroundthepaddockboundariesandatwaterwayedgestocatchsediments?Surfacerun-offfromyourpaddocksindicatesthattherainfallorirrigationrateisfasterthantheabsorptionrateofthesoil.Whenthishappensthewaterponds

onthesoilsurfaceandgravitydetermineswhereitendsup.Surfacewaterflowingtowater-wayscarriessedimentandnutrientswithit.Topsoilerosionisahighcosttoproductivityandsedimentsareharmfultofreshwaterecosystems.

Identifywheresurfacerunoffislikelytooccurandtakestepstominimiseitbyleavinggrassbuffersaroundthewater-waystoslowsurfacewatermovementandtrapsediments.

Contourdrainsrunacrossslopestobreakrun-offflowdowntheslope.

TheFranklinSustainabilityProject–soilanddrainagemanagementguidehasgoodinformationaboutminimisingsedimentlosses.

www.arc.govt.nz/albany/fms/main/Documents/Environment/Rural%20care/Franklin%20Sustainability%20Project.pdf.

47.Isfertiliserpreventedfromenteringwaterduringspreading?Fertilisermustnotbeapplieddirectlyintotowaterwaysunderanycircumstances.Aclearbufferzoneisrequiredbetweentheapplicationzoneandthewater.

Itishighrisktoapplyfertiliserwithinbufferzones.Surfacerun-offfrompaddockscanflowintowater-wayscausingwaterqualityissues.Useheadlandmanagementsystemsonyourfertiliserspreaderwhenspreadingnearwaterways.

48.Areyourstreamanddrainbanksfreefromerosion?Theadverseeffectsoferosiontowaterwayscanbeminimisedbystabilisingstreambanks.Soillostfromerodingbanksincreasesthesedimentloadofthewatermakingitmurky.Nutrientssuchasphosphorusandnitrogenstimulatealgalgrowthandmaybetoxictofishandhumans.Unstablewaterwayedgescanbeprotectedbyplantingriparianstripswithsuitablevegetationand/orfencingtoexcludestock.

49.Isthewaterfromsub-surfacedrainspreventedfromflowingdirectlyintoawaterways?Sub-surfacedrainsreducerun-offandsoilpuggingbutcantransportnutrientsandmicro-organismsdirectlyintowaterways.Wherepossibledesignyoursub-surfacedrainstodischargeintowetlandsorfilterstrips,notdirectlyintoopenwater-ways.

50.Arestockexcludedfromwaterways?Ifstockhaveaccesstostreamanddrainbankstheywillcausedamageanderosion.Iftheyhaveaccesstothewatertheywilladdlargeamountsoffaecalpollution.Fencedwaterwayspreventstockaccessandreducestocklosses.

Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist 23Technicalnotestoaccompanyyourchecklist

6.AppendicesFactsheets• Drainage

• SoilWater

• IrrigationAudits

AppendicesFactsheets24 AppendicesFactsheets

DrainageGooddrainagesystemsquicklyremoveexcesssurfaceandsub-surfacewaterfromthepaddock.Aneffectivedrainagesystemwillremoveexcesssoilwaterwithin24hoursoftherainfallevent.Agoodtimetoassesstheneedsonyourfarmisafteraheavyraineventwhenproblemswithpondingandrun-offareeasytosee.

Thereareanumberofoptionsavailabletoimprovedrainage,including:• Re-shapingthelayoutorcontourofthepaddock.• Improvingsurfacedrainagetoremovesurface waterquicklyfromcroppedareas.• Installingsubsurfacedrainagetoremovewater fromsaturatedsoilsbydownwardflow.

PlanningAfarmdrainagesystemrequirescarefulplanningtooptimisethecapitalexpenditure.Asuccessfulschemewillconsidersthesefactors:1. Whatiscausingthewater-loggingproblem?Isit fromsurfaceorsubsurfacewaterorboth?Where isthewatercomingfrom?2. Whatisthefrequencyanddurationofwater loggingandhowbigistheaffectedarea?Is remediationapriorityforon-goingprofitability?3. Istheresufficientoutfallavailable?Waterneedsto bedrainedawaytosomewhereelse,preferablyby gravitationalflow,otherwiseitbecomesacostly exerciseinvolvingpumps.Aretheoutfalldrains wellmaintainedanddeepenoughtoremove waterquickly?4. Whatarethelikelybenefits?Willthecostofthe drainageschemebereturnedthroughincreased productivityandhowlongwillittake?5. Whichareasshouldbedrainedfirst?Efficiency andcostsavingscanbegainedbyconsideringthe drainageplanforthewholefarmandworkingout whichpartshouldbetackledfirst.6. Whattypeofdrainagesystemisrequired?7. DoIneedassistancetodevelopaplan?

Reshaping

Precision levelling using high accuracy GPS.

Otheroptionsincludeensuringsurfacecontourallowseffectivewatermovement.Precisionlandlevellingisusefulinremovingdepressionsinpaddockswherepondingisaproblem.Bundedheadlandscanpreventwaterflowingintothecropandcultivationmethodssuchasfurrowdikingreducerun-offbyslowingthewatermovementalongwheeltracks.

SurfacedrainsSurfacedrainsareusefulforinterceptingrun-offfromneighbouringhigherareasanddrainingsurfacewateroffthelandquickly.Theyalsocollectwaterfromsub-surfacedrains.Surfacedrainsincludeditches,drainsandgrassedwaterways.Theymustberegularlymaintainedtokeepthemflowingandmaybeahazardformachineryandanimals.Caremustbetakentopreventbankerosionanddamagefromstockaccess.

Subsurfacedrains

Installing sub-surface drainage with gravel envelope.

Subsurfacedrainsremoveexcesswaterfromthesoilprofilevianetworksofperforatedplastictubes,(tile-drains)orunlinedchannels(mole-drains),installedbelowthesoilsurface.Waterdrainsintothetubesorchannelsandflowsawaytoasurfacedrain.

Moledrainscanonlybemadeinheavysoilswithaclaysub-soil.Longlastingchannelsneedaclaycontentof30-35%.Theyaremadebypullingaripperbladeormoleploughthroughthesubsoilandrelyonthesoilstructuretosupportandkeepthechannelopen.Ideallythesoilshouldbefreeofstonesatthemoledraindepth.

Useanexperienceddrainagecontractortoassistwiththedevelopmentofyourdrainageplan.

EnvironmentalconcernsDrainagehasbothpositiveandnegativeeffectsonwaterquality.Ingeneral,landwithgoodsub-surfacedrainagehaslesssurfacerun-off,erosion,andphosphorusloss,thanlandthathasnodrainageimprovementsoronlysurfacedrainage.Howeversub-surfacedrainageisasignificantrouteforwatersolublenutrientslikenitratestoreachfreshwater.

Wetlandsareanimportantpartofadrainagesystem.Theyhavearoleinregulatingwaterflowandmaintainingwaterquality,aswellasprovidinghabitatforwater-basedwildlife.

Constructedwetlandsareasimple,practicaltoolfarmerscanusetointercepttiledrainagewatertoreducenutrientlosses.

NIWA’spublication;NewZealandGuidelinesforConstructedWetlandTreatmentofTileDrainage,guidesfarmersonhowtodevelopaneffectivewetlandontheirfarmandprovidesguidanceonwetlandplanting,weedcontrolandmaintenance.

AppendicesFactsheets 25AppendicesFactsheets

SoilwaterSoilholdswaterlikeasponge.Itsoaksitupuntilitcanholdnomore,thenitdrains.Theamountthatcanbeheldisthewater-holdingcapacityofthatsoilandisrelatedtosoiltextureandstructure.Coarsetexturedsoilshavelowwaterstorageandfastdrainage.Siltsandclaysretainmorewateranddrainmoreslowly.

Well-structuredsoilshavenetworksofinter-connectingporeswhichenablewatertoinfiltrateanddraineasily.Compactedsoilshavefewerspacesforthewaterandtheflowratethroughitisslower.Thesesoilstendtopondwhenitrainsbecausetheirinfiltrationispoor.Asoil’sinfiltrationrateistherateatwhichitisabletoabsorbrainfallorirrigation.

Thesoil’swaterholdingcapacityWaterisheldinthesoilinthemacroandmicroporesbetweenthesoilparticles.Whenalltheporesarefullthesoilissaturated.Ifmorewaterisaddeditdrainsoutundertheforceofgravity.Thisisdrainage.

Afteradayortwo,themacroporesempty.Microporesareabletoholdwateragainstgravitysoarestillfull.AtthisstagethesoilissaidtobeatFieldCapacity.

Waterisheldintheporesbycapillaryaction,thesmallerthepore,themoretightlyitisheld.

WateravailabilityforthecropPlantsaccesseasy-to-getwaterfirst,butasthesoildries,capillaryforcesbecometoostrongfortheplant.ThisistermedStressPoint,beyondwhichgrowthisslowedandyieldislost.Plantswillsurvivebutbecomeincreasinglystressed.

Atacertainlevel,plantscangetnomorewaterandbecomepermanentlywilted.ThisisthePermanentWiltingPoint.

TheamountofwaterinasoilthatsupportsmaximumplantgrowthisknownasReadilyAvailableWater.ItisthedifferencebetweenFieldCapacityandtheStressPoint.

Efficientirrigationschedulingbalancesthecropdemandforwaterwiththesoilsupply.Thecropgetsenoughwatertoreachitsyieldpotentialandthereisnowaste.

EfficientandeffectiveirrigationkeepswaterintherootzonebetweenFieldCapacityandStressPoint.Plantgrowthismaximisedandtheriskofrun-offandleachingarereduced.

Applythewaterattherightrateandintherightplace.Applicationrateshouldnotexceedtheinfiltrationrateoftheslowestsoilsinthepaddock.Ifitdoes,run-offandpondingwilloccur.Timingofirrigationisalsoimportant.Soilmoisturemonitoringkeepstrackoftheavailablewaterandthewatershouldbeappliedbeforethecrop’sstresspointisreached.

Wilted maize.

AppendicesFactsheets26 AppendicesFactsheets

IrrigationauditsAnirrigationauditorassessesandreportsontheperformanceofthesystem.

Twomainaspectsofefficiencyareconsidered:1. Theperformanceofthesystem,includingan assessmentofthedistributionuniformityof thewaterandchecksonpumpandfiltration performance.2. Themanagementofthesystem,focussingonthe timinganddepthofirrigationsandthesystem’s maintenance.

Theauditreportprovidesrecommendationsforimprovementstotheefficiencyofthesystembasedontheauditfindings.Newsystemsshouldbeauditedbeforecommissioningtocheckthatthecontractspecificationshavebeenmet.

Distributionuniformity(DU)calculateshowevenlywaterisappliedtothepaddockduringanirrigationevent.Itisexpressedasa%,wherethehigherthevalue,themoreeventhedistribution.AhighDUdependsfirstlyonthesystemdesignandinstallation.Badlydesignedsystemsdoapoorjobateachrunandcostirrigatorsmoney.Thesecondconsiderationishowwellthesystemperforms.TheDUwilldecreaseifthereblockagesandleaks,andifapplicationratesexceedthesoil’sabilitytoabsorbthewater.

TheauditmeasuresforDUcalculationare:• Pressurechecks,acrossthesystem.• Waterdeliveryacrossthesystem,viacatch cans,forflowrateand/orspraypatterns.• Nozzleandemitterperformance.• Visualobservationofleaks,runoff,soiltype, andothersystemspecificproblems.

EnergyefficiencyEnergyEfficiencyisimportantbecauseofthedirectcostofenergylosses.Theauditorwillcheckpumps,motors,pressureregulatorsandfilters.Itisimportantthatpumpsandmotorsaretherightsizeforthesystem.Iftheyaretoobigtheywilloperateoutsidetheirefficiencyrangeandpoweriswasted.Ifbothareinefficienttheeffectismultipliedandthelossescanbelarge.Manysystemshavetoomanypressureregulators.Dirtyandblockedfiltersandnozzlesreduceefficiencyandcostmoney.

IrrigationschedulingIrrigationschedulingisanimportantaspectofirrigationmanagement,applyingenoughwaterwhenit’sneededensuresgoodcropyieldsandreduceswaste.Theauditorwillcheckhowtheirrigationsarebeingscheduled.Schedulingdependsonknowing;• Thesoil’savailablemoisturestatus.• Howfasttheavailablewaterisbeingused,through cropuptakeandbyevapotranspiration.• Howmuchwaterisbeingeffectivelyapplied.

WateruseefficiencyWaterUseEfficiencyorapplicationefficiency(AE)istheratiobetweentheamountofirrigationwatereffectivelyusedbythecropandtheamountthatwasapplied(lessthechangeinsoilmoisturestorage).Itisaffectedbyboththedistributionuniformityandirrigationscheduling.

Over-wateringisthemostlikelycauseofwaterlossinanyirrigationsystem,soschedulingisimportantforhighefficiencies.

Theirrigationauditcanassessaone-offapplicationforefficiency,buttrackingefficiencyovertheseasonrequiresgoodrecord-keeping.Criticalinformationincludesirrigationeventdates,durations,watervolumeapplied,andrainfallfigures.

AppendicesFactsheets 27AppendicesFactsheets

AcknowledgementsFundersFARwouldliketoacknowledgefundingsupportfromtheMPISustainableFarmingFund(MPISFF)forthispublication.

AuthorsDianaMathers,FAR.AndreaPearson,FAR.

ReviewersGregSneath,Fertresearch.

GraphicdesignMelissaHillmer,BNSDesignandPrint.

PhotographsPaulJohnstoneandDirkWallace,PlantandFoodResearch.DanBloomer,LandWISEInc.

A D D I N G V A L U E T O T H E B U S I N E S S O F A R A B L E F A R M I N G ™

Foundation for Arable Research PO Box 23133 Templeton, Christchurch 8445 New Zealand Phone: +64 3 345 5783 Fax: +64 3 341 7061 Email: far@far.org.nz Web: www.far.org.nz

FAR FocusISSN 1175-5504

Nutrient Management Plans ISBN 978-0-9876673-0-4

®