Van Dam wants to adjust phosphate standards

In the sixth Nitrates Directive action programme, State Secretary Martijn van Dam wants more customization for each plot with regard to the phosphate standards. Future manure policy focuses on improving soil and water quality. That is why the use of soil-improving fertilizers is being expanded, but on the other hand, it is no longer possible to use phosphate more than average. This certainly applies to sandy and loess soils. 

Van Dam wants to improve the current phosphate application standard system. The adjustment could lead to an easing when the phosphate status is 'low' or 'neutral', but tightens when it is 'high'. Exact standards are not yet known. Determining the phosphate status of the soil can now be improved, writes Van Dam House of Representatives. He mentions three areas for improvement:

1. The phosphate status of the soil can be visualized better than before. This applies to both construction and grassland. Van Dam wants to make use of this and include these new measuring methods in the sixth action programme.
2. The phosphate application standards must be geared even better to the phosphate status of a plot. In addition to the phosphate status of the soil, crop extraction is also included. 
3. The phosphate usage standards are being adjusted. The 'low' and 'neutral' categories remain. The 'high' category (fertilising more phosphate than average) will be tightened up to counteract the risk of leaching. 

Use soil-improving fertilizers
The limited phosphate space in the 'high' condition can be compensated if a substantial proportion of soil-improving fertilizers with a high organic matter content is used. This includes solid manure, organic waste compost or green compost.

Tightening of standard for sand and loess
Van Dam wants to tackle the leaching of nitrate from groundwater in the sand and loess region. He wants to reduce leaching to below 50 mg nitrate per litre. Now the value is above this norm. The measures will mainly apply to leaching-sensitive crops such as maize, potatoes and a number of open field vegetables. Van Dam expects to be able to contain the leaching with row fertilization and more use of catch crops. 

Non-statutory standards for drinking water areas
There are also drinking water areas in the sand and loess regions. For these areas, non-statutory standards are set per area. The agricultural sector will establish these standards together with the drinking water companies and the government. 

Possible additional measures for potato cultivation
Van Dam wants to tackle the leaching of nitrogen and phosphate into the surface water with more information about leaching and plots. He is working on a measure to prevent fertilizer run-off from arable land. This concerns ridge cultivation on clay and loess soils.

Derogation
Only when this sixth action program is approved, the Netherlands may be eligible for derogation. Van Dam indicates that he has started a process to make a choice about how this should be done.

Goal 6th action program
The aim of the sixth action program is to ensure cleaner soil and surface water through excess nitrogen and phosphate from agriculture. Van Dam compliments agriculture on the increasingly efficient use of nitrogen and phosphate. "This leads to less pollution of ground and surface water with nitrogen and phosphate from agriculture," writes Van Dam. 

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