1. The rate of the annual application of natural fertilisers used for agriculture, containing not more than 170 kg N in pure component per hectare of Utilised Agricultural Area, shall be fixed as follows:

  •  the number of natural fertilisers produced on the farm and the amount of nitrogen in these fertilisers are to be calculated based on the average annual livestock numbers calculated   following Annex 4 to the Programme and the yearly average production volume of natural fertilisers and the concentration of nitrogen contained in these fertilisers specified in Annex 6 to the Programme;
  • further, it is necessary to plan the way of distributing manure to individual agricultural parcels in such a way as not to exceed in the course of the year the permissible rate of nitrogen from manure in its pure component of 170 kg N/ha of agricultural land, where the allowable rate of manure = 170 kg N/ha: N content kg/t or kg/m3 (the N content kg/t or kg/m3 should be taken from annex no 6 to the Programme or a documented study on manure composition).

2. In manure transfer, the amount of manure produced on the farm and transferred, and the amount of nitrogen in the manure, shall be calculated by the person who shares the manure.

3. The entity conducting agricultural production and the entrepreneur running activities referred to in Article 102(1) of the Act of 20 July 2017. – Water Law shall draw up a nitrogen    fertilisation plan or apply the maximum nitrogen rates referred to in the Programme.

4. The obligations referred to in paragraph 3 do not apply to fertilisation of crops under cover (greenhouses, hothouses, foil tents) and container crops, using the technology of closed circulation of fertilisers and water.

5. The nitrogen fertilisation scheme shall be drawn up according to the set of recommendations of good agricultural practice, based on the chemical composition of fertilisers and the nutritional needs of plants, and the abundance of soil, taking into account the waste and fertilisers applied.

6. The list of intensive crops cultivated over an area of more than 50 ha, under Article 105a(1) of the Act of 20 July 2017. – Water Law obliges agricultural production entities and entities carrying out activities referred to in Article 102(1) of the Act of 20 July 2017. Water Law to develop a nitrogen fertilisation plan set out in Annex No. 7 to the Programme.

7. The entities other than those referred to in Article 105a(1)(1) of the Act of 20 July 2017. – Water Law may develop a nitrogen fertilisation plan considering the method of calculating the application rate of mineral nitrogen fertilisers – simplified nitrogen balance, which was specified in Annex No. 8 to the Programme, or using a fertilisation programme including the requirements for simplified nitrogen balance specified in Annex No. 8 to the Programme.

8. The entity which is not obliged to prepare a nitrogen fertilisation plan shall apply fertilisers in such application rates that do not exceed the maximum amounts of nitrogen acting from all sources, which are specified in Table 14 of Annex 9 to the Programme, for the main crop, for crops obtained in regulated soil reaction, with balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilisation and application of integrated plant protection.

Source: Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 12 February 2020 on the adoption of the “Programme of measures to reduce pollution of waters by nitrates from agricultural sources and to prevent further pollution” (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 243, point 1.5.)