Nitrogen standards remain 20 percent lower

The nitrogen standards on sandy and loess soils also remain 20% lower in the sixth action program than in the rest of the Netherlands. There will also be a discount on the standard for catch crops in these areas. Minister Carola Schouten (Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality) announced this in a response to the action programme.

The usage standards were further tightened during the fourth and fifth Nitrates Directive action programmes. With effect from 2015, the nitrogen application standards for sand and loess soils in the south of the Netherlands have been lowered by 20% for leaching-sensitive arable crops, including silage maize.

Halving nitrogen space for green manure
In addition to this measure, Schouten has also proposed halving the standards for green manures on crops prone to leaching. LTO Nederland and Meststoffen Nederland argue for an exception to this reduction. The reason is that this group is already sufficiently punished with 20% lower standards.

Fertilizers The Netherlands is calling for the application standards to be broadened to compensate for the 20% discount in 2015, if the nitrogen application standards for green manures are continued to be halved. Schouten: "Due to environmental importance, there is no scope to increase the application standards for the southern sand and loess area. Halving the nitrogen application standard of a green manure fertilizer should contribute to a reduction of nitrate leaching in the southern sand and loess area."

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