Table 5.

The highest ranked measures identified using the optimisation runs for the Demonstration Test Catchments (DTCs).

1. Use a fertiliser recommendation system*

2. Do not apply manufactured P fertilisers to high P index soils (with an Olsen soil P index of 4 or above)

3. Move feeders at regular intervals

4. Leave over winter-stubbles

5. Do not apply manufactured fertiliser to high-risk areas*

6. Site solid manure heaps away from watercourses/field drains*

7. No overgrazing of natural or semi-natural grassland (GAEC 9)

8. Do not spread slurry or poultry manure at high-risk times*

9. Do not apply manure to high-risk areas*

10. Increase the capacity of farm slurry stores to improve timing of slurry applications*

11. Incorporate manure into the soil*

12. Avoid spreading manufactured fertiliser to fields at high-risk times*

Underlined measures are not covered by current regulatory controls and so would be an addition to the current requirement of farmers in any list of ‘basic’ measures. The remaining measures are either included in 2009 NVZ Action Programme rules (and therefore mandatory adoption outside NVZs would also be additional to the current regulatory landscape - * denotes NVZ AP rules), or are part of the current Cross Compliance regime – Good Agricultural and Ecological Condition (GAEC) rules.