How to do the SFI actions for nutrient management
Find out how you could do the SFI actions for nutrient management.
Applies to England
It’s up to you how you complete each SFI action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the action’s aim (which is described in each action).
This voluntary guidance includes advice on how you could do the SFI actions for nutrient management (NUM1, NUM2 and NUM3).
You may find it helpful to read this guidance, but you do not have to follow it. The requirements you must follow for each SFI action are explained in the ‘Details of the SFI actions’, which you can find in either:
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section 2 of the SFI handbook
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the webpage versions of the ‘details of the SFI actions’
How to complete a nutrient management assessment and produce a review report (NUM1)
What you’re aiming to achieve
The aim of NUM1 is that you assess your current approach to nutrient usage and effectively plan how to:
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manage your nutrient usage more efficiently and effectively
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optimise your use of organic sources of crop nutrition
Finding a ‘FACTS qualified adviser’
You can use the BASIS ‘Find an Adviser’ tool (available from late summer 2023) to help you find a FACTS qualified advisor to:
- complete the nutrient management (NM) assessment
- help you produce a written NM review report
Completing an NM assessment
You can choose how the FACTS qualified adviser completes the NM assessment required by NUM1.There is no standard format.
To help you achieve the aim of NUM1 (described above), you can do the following to plan the right amount of nutrients for the soil:
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calculate the nutrient and pH requirements of the crop
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sample and test the soil in each field for pH, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium – it’s usually best to do this every 3 to 5 years
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calculate the nutrient levels that will be supplied from organic sources, such as legumes, manure, slurry or digestate, or nutrients recycled from the return of crop residues (for example, straw)
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calculate the amount of artificial fertiliser you’ll need to apply so it does not exceed the requirement of the crop - maximising nutrient supply from the soil and organic sources will reduce the need for artificial fertiliser
It’s best to take soil samples at a time when nutrient levels are likely to be lowest. This is usually between September and March after the previous crop has been harvested. This will help to identify the residual nutrients left in the soil that will be used by the next crop.
Where possible, avoid taking soil samples on any area within a land parcel containing historic or archaeological features identified on your SFI Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (SFI HEFER). If you need to take soil samples, read the information on historic and archaeological features before doing so (or read section 4.3.2 of the SFI handbook).
You can find more guidance about nutrient management in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) Nutrient Management Guide (RB209).
Producing a written NM review report
You can choose how to produce the written NM review report required by NUM1. There is no standard format.
You may find it helpful to read the Tried & Tested Nutrient Management Plan guidance for a step-by-step guide on creating farm nutrient plans. It also includes a template.
How to establish and maintain legumes on improved grassland (NUM2)
What you’re aiming to achieve
The aim of NUM2 is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.
Spring until early autumn will usually include March, April, May, June, July, August and September, but this may vary according to your location and setting.
Establishing legumes
Choosing a seed mix
NUM2 explains what types of legumes you can use on improved grassland (under ‘What to do’).
Sainfoin, lucerne and alsike clover are more suited to grassland that’s being cut.
Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
Where to sow the seed mix
It will help to sow the seed mix where you want to reduce your fertiliser use. To help you plan where and how to do NUM2, you may find it helpful to do NUM1 (assess nutrient management and produce a review report).
Nitrogen fixation from the legumes will be reduced if the soil phosphate and pH are not at optimal levels.
Spreading the legume areas across the farm will help to provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.
Sowing the seed mix
Your seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.
You can sow the seed mix shallowly into a firm seedbed or overseed into an established grass sward.
Sowing the seed mix in March or April will usually help germination. Alternatively, you can sow after a silage cut, as the grassland is likely to be more open. You may get better results after the second silage cut (or late hay cut), as the regrowth is less vigorous. Sowing legumes after August may not allow them to establish sufficiently before the winter.
Managing the legumes on improved grassland
During establishment
It’s advisable to keep livestock off the areas of legumes while the seedlings establish. This will prevent new grasses or legumes being grazed out.
Maintaining established areas of legumes
Once the areas of legumes are established, you can cut them or graze them with livestock as long as you do it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve the aim of NUM2 (described above).
To help you achieve this aim, you can manage the areas of legumes by cutting them or grazing them with livestock. This will help to reduce competition from existing plants.
You may find it helpful to read Farm Wildlife’s advice on rotational legume and herb-rich swards for livestock farming. This includes guidance on how you could manage the legume areas (under ‘ongoing management’).
How to establish and maintain a legume fallow (NUM3)
What you’re aiming to achieve
The aim of NUM3 is that there’s a legume fallow that produces areas of flowering plants from late spring and during the summer months.
Late spring and during the summer months will usually include May, June, July and August, but this may vary according to your location and setting.
Establishing a legume fallow
Choosing a seed mix
NUM3 explains the minimum requirement for flowering species, including legumes, in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’).
Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
Where to sow the seed mix
It will usually help to use sites:
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that receive plenty of sunlight, to help provide better foraging habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects
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where you wish to control grass weeds, such as blackgrass
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where soil health and compaction need improving
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soil run-off during winter
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where you want to reduce your fertiliser use in the following crop
Avoid sites that are:
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difficult to access and manage, like remote field corners
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known to contain rare arable wildflowers
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known to support injurious and other broad-leaved weeds which can be difficult to control, such as common ragwort, creeping thistle, spear thistle, broad-leaved dock, curled dock
Spreading the legume fallow areas across the farm will help to provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.
Sowing the seed mix
Your seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose.
It will help the seeds to germinate if they’re sown:
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into a consolidated seedbed that’s firm, fine, level and weed free
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when the weather and soil moisture is best for the crops in your seed mix – either the spring or autumn, although it will be easier to control grass weeds in spring-sown fallows
You can broadcast the seeds onto the surface of the seedbed to help germination. Alternatively, you can shallow-drill the seeds up to a depth of 1 centimetre (cm), as small seeds usually struggle to germinate when sown deeper than 1cm.
After you’ve sown the seed mix, if the soil is dry enough, you can roll the seeds to improve seed-to-soil contact, retain moisture and reduce the risk of slug damage.
Managing the sown legume fallow
During establishment
In the first few months after sowing, it’s advisable to check the area for successful germination and pest damage. If establishment is poor, you may need to re-sow part or all the area. Your seed supplier can help you if you’re unsure what to do.
Maintaining established areas
Once the area is established, you need to maintain it by managing it in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim (described above).
NUM3 allows you to cut the area to prevent blackgrass from setting seed or to control other annual grass weeds.
During the first spring and summer after sowing, you can:
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start cutting as soon as blackgrass starts to produce seed heads
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do follow up cuts as necessary to remove further seed heads
During the second year after sowing, you can control blackgrass by cutting between March and mid- June-May and then leave the area uncut for a period of at least around 5 weeks until early August. This will help to:
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allow plants to flower for as long as possible
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provide pollen and nectar for insects such as bees, butterflies, hoverflies and moths
Check the area for signs of nesting birds before you cut it – birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds fledge.
Remove the cut vegetation, where possible, to help reduce the risk of it smothering the flower species and limit weeds – if it’s impractical to do this, you can finely chop them to spread them as thinly as possible.