Defra has created a new online nutrient management planning tool, building on the existing PLANET and MANNER-NPK tools.
Developed with the support of ADAS (who created PLANET) and the Agriculture and AHDB, the tool uses the latest RB209 guidance (the Nutrient Management Guide) to calculate nutrient recommendations using grower farm data, such as soil analysis and expected yields. Defra says it has been tested by farmers and advisers to ensure it works in practice.
By following the recommendations, growers can reduce over-application, cut waste and make sure every bag of fertiliser or load of slurry contributes to crop growth.
Once growers have set up their farm and fields, and entered soil type and soil analysis information, the tool can pull in local data from the postcode, including rainfall and altitude. Users can also adjust the rainfall figure if needed.
It then offers guidance on nutrient recommendations across a wide range of crops, including arable, grassland, horticulture and permanent crops, and it can be used for organic and regenerative systems too.
The tool takes account of factors such as soil type, previous crops and the environmental setting of the farm, to help make better informed decisions efficiently. For those in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), this can be inputted, which will then produce the correct compliance reports for confidence that nutrient planning meets regulatory requirements.
Data can also be shared with advisers or for compliance purposes. Defra assures no data will be shared directly for compliance monitoring. In future updates, growers will be able to import farm data from PLANET to help set up their plan.
On Wednesday, 4 March, ADAS will run a free webinar explaining how the tool works. To register, please visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7560349058235749720
