News » Revision of part 2 of Annex III of the Helsinki Convention - CCB's proposals

To minimise nutrient leakage and eutrophication to the Baltic Sea the nutrient surplus from total fertilizers applied on farmland must be controlled. The nutrient surplus, properly calculated with nutrient ?input? and ?output? balanced on farmfield level, drives the nutrient run-off. Limits for manure applied on farmland and its nutrient content (170 kg/ha nitrogen; 25 kg/ha phosphorus) do not provide information if the fertilizer application is balanced with the crop needs, with a low nutrient surplus. Only proper nutrient-balanced calculations and figures on nutrient surplus level for N and P, can inform how well nutrient-balanced the production is.

Therefore CCB proposes to amend item 7 with a reference to better practices for ?nutrient surplus calculations? and ?to fully utilize nutrient content of manure in fertilization practices?. It is most relevant to include new wording in Annex III to fulfil the HELCOM 2013 Ministerial meeting decisions.

Proposals have been made to allow for higher application of nitrogen from manure than 170 kg/ha. Poland and EU propose ?a derogation from maximum amount of Nitrogen from manure can be applied in a region or a country?. Denmark proposes ?more specific , national or regional rules may derogate from these general application rates?.
Derogation from the general rule, max 170 kg/ha N, under specific conditions within EU Nitrates Directive, should by some HELCOM countries, EU-countries, be handled by the EC, and not be included in HELCOM Annex III, Part 2. Proposed texts should be deleted.
Poland and EU propose that the limit for manure phosphorus 25 kg /ha should be changed so ?higher rates can be applied on soils with phosphorus deficits?. Such changes would not be in accordance with HOD decision that existing Annex III are minimum requirements, and AGRI-5 agreement that Annex III requirements should not be weakened as a result of the revision. The limit for P shall be maintained for all soils.

The wording in existing Annex III text, after the figures 170 kg/ha and 25 kg/ha says ?with a view to avoiding nutrient surplus, taking soil characteristics, agricultural practices and crop types into account? give fundamental views on nutrient application prerequisites, and should stay.