Fertilisers and manures
Fertilisers and manure
Wingerworth
Allotment Cooperative Society Ltd
Code
of Good Practice for the use of Farmyard Manure, Compost and other
Fertilisers
The Committee will arrange for bulk deliveries of manure to be delivered for the purpose of plot holders’ cultivation to the communal plot (A7a). This manure is available for all plot holders. This is available at £1 per three barrow loads. Please ensure that you pay.
Plot holders who wish to share a bulk delivery must obtain the permission of the Committee prior to placing an order. The committee will consider the size of the load and delivery circumstances and may refuse the delivery if they feel the bulk delivery will be to the detriment of the site; for instance, if the roadways will be damaged by the delivery vehicle, or the intended load deemed too large for the normal cultivation of an allotment/s.
Consider reducing nitrate leaching by sowing green manure seeds in the autumn – which can also control weeds and improve soil structure - and digging in the plant matter in spring.
Apply manufactured fertilisers or organic manures as accurately as possible and not spreading when the plot is: waterlogged, flooded or covered in snow frozen for more than 12 hours in the previous 24 hours
Avoid contamination of nearby water courses by not spreading: manufactured nitrogen fertiliser within 2 metres of surface water organic manure within 5 metres of surface water organic manure within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Effects of Nitrates in Drinking Water Nitrate is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in rural areas. It is regulated in drinking water primarily because excess levels can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen and cause methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" disease. Although nitrate levels that affect infants do not pose a direct threat to older children and adults, they will indicate the possible presence of other more serious residential or agricultural contaminants, such as bacteria or pesticides.
Effects of Nitrates in Water Courses
As
an Allotment Cooperative Society, we are committed to encouraging
plot holders to look after their plots and our site in a sustainable
manner, in ways that contribute positively to the local environment
and biodiversity. We recognise
the impact that nitrates have on surrounding rivers and water courses
and have established good practice guidelines for plot holders when
using manure and other fertilisers. This code of practice will be
reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect the relevant
environmental regulations.
The Committee will arrange for bulk deliveries of manure to be delivered for the purpose of plot holders’ cultivation to the communal plot (A7a). This manure is available for all plot holders. This is available at £1 per three barrow loads. Please ensure that you pay.
Plot holders who wish to share a bulk delivery must obtain the permission of the Committee prior to placing an order. The committee will consider the size of the load and delivery circumstances and may refuse the delivery if they feel the bulk delivery will be to the detriment of the site; for instance, if the roadways will be damaged by the delivery vehicle, or the intended load deemed too large for the normal cultivation of an allotment/s.
Apply
chemical fertilisers such as ‘Growmore’ in the growing season
only and avoiding applications of fertilisers between the start of
September and the end of January.
Consider reducing nitrate leaching by sowing green manure seeds in the autumn – which can also control weeds and improve soil structure - and digging in the plant matter in spring.
Apply manufactured fertilisers or organic manures as accurately as possible and not spreading when the plot is: waterlogged, flooded or covered in snow frozen for more than 12 hours in the previous 24 hours
Avoid contamination of nearby water courses by not spreading: manufactured nitrogen fertiliser within 2 metres of surface water organic manure within 5 metres of surface water organic manure within 50 metres of a spring, well or borehole
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Effects of Nitrates in Drinking Water Nitrate is one of the most common groundwater contaminants in rural areas. It is regulated in drinking water primarily because excess levels can interfere with the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen and cause methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" disease. Although nitrate levels that affect infants do not pose a direct threat to older children and adults, they will indicate the possible presence of other more serious residential or agricultural contaminants, such as bacteria or pesticides.
Effects of Nitrates in Water Courses
It’s
widely recognised that nitrate in groundwater originates primarily
from fertilizers, septic systems, and manure storage or spreading
operations. Fertilizer nitrogen that is not taken up by plants,
volatilized, or carried away by surface runoff leaches to the
groundwater in the form of nitrate. This not only makes the nitrogen
unavailable to crops, but also can elevate the concentration in
groundwater to levels that adversely impact on aquatic ecosystems.
Excess
nitrate in water becomes an abundant source of fertilizer for aquatic
plants and algae, promoting excessive growth in each case. Where
there is increased colonisation of aquatic plants and algae, the
amount of dissolved oxygen becomes unstable. During the day,
there will be usually be high levels of dissolved oxygen, and at
night the levels of oxygen dramatically decreases, creating stressful
conditions for fish. This in turn will affect their ability to
reproduce and if the conditions persist for a long period of time,
the stressed fish species may choose to leave that area or, if unable
to migrate, simply die off.
The
overabundance of plants and algae will also create conditions where
organic matter accumulates. High densities of algae will create
a condition where sunlight cannot reach very far into the water and,
since plants and algae require some sunlight to survive, those which
are deprived of sunlight will die off. Dead plant matter will
settle to the bottom of the water and bacteria that feed on decaying
organic material will greatly increase in numbers. As these
bacteria also consume oxygen, they will in turn reduce the amount of
dissolved oxygen to a level below that required for many aquatic
insects and fish to survive.