Dónal Kinsella Great question Dónal! There are a number of measures than can be implemented at farm level to mitigate against point source pollution from the spreading of manures.
Some of these include applying the right amount of manure at the right time in order to match the growth requirements of the crop being grown. In this way, we can optimise the efficiency of the nutrients being supplied to the crop, thereby avoiding overly excessive applications of nutrients, which is the main cause of point source pollution! An effective way to do this is by getting our manures analysed for their nutrient constituents, and applying at optimal rates accordingly based on these results.
The timing of manure applications is also a critical consideration in mitigating point source pollution. For example, it is always a good idea to look ahead at the weather forecast for the days after you intend to spread manure. Avoid spreading manure if heavy rains are forecast in your area, as this will simply wash away many of the valuable nutrients and increase the risk of contaminating surface waters. It is also wise to avoid spreading manures on frozen ground, or during periods of little or no crop growth in winter time, and of course, not to spread manures during the closed period of the EU nitrates directive.
To conclude, a combination of forward planning, testing manures for nutrient constituents, and tailoring the application to the growth requirements of the crop being grown are very effective measures that can be implemented at farm level to mitigate point source pollution from manures.
