Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Action Programme review: consultation

4. Review of the NVZ Action Programme

Regulation 6(6) of the Protection of Water Against Agricultural Nitrate Pollution (Scotland) Regulations 1996 requires that we review and if necessary, revise the Action Programmes at least every 4 years. This review draws on scientific research, and new evidence affecting Action Programme measures - taking account of the varying agricultural, soil and climatic conditions that can be found in Scotland. Under regulation 6A of the 1996 Regulations, we must also ensure that the public is given the opportunity to participate in the review or revision of an Action Plan; this consultation is being undertaken under regulation 6A.

The aim of Scotland’s nitrate legislation is to protect the water environment from nitrogen pollution from agricultural sources. Livestock farming results in the production of substantial quantities of manures and slurries. These are of potential benefit as fertilisers, but are potentially polluting. Therefore a key objective is to increase the efficiency of manure use, specifically increasing the amount of nitrogen in manure and slurry that is taken up by grass or other crops, rather than being allowed to run off or leach into the water environment. We are therefore expecting that there will be continuing improvements in the industry’s use of manures.

The NVZ Action Programme measures review includes the following aspects:

• Section 5 Rates and limits on the field application of nitrogen fertilisers
• Section 6 Nitrogen Fertiliser Applications – Closed spreading periods
• Section 8 Storage requirements for organic manures
• Section 9 Other nitrogen management measures consistent with good agricultural practice