§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will take steps to encourage farmers to reduce the use of nitrates;
(2) what guidance his Department issues to farmers on the use of nitrates.
§ 907 Mrs. FennerSo as to ensure the efficient use of nitrates and other nitrogenous fertilisers while reducing as far as practicable the risks of pollution, farmers are encouraged by my Department to restrict application of such fertilisers to those times when the crops can utilise the nitrogen. Autumn and winter applications should therefore be avoided unless there is a specific crop requirement.
576W
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the amount of nitrates used on farms in each of the last 10 years, and the purposes for which it was used.
§ Mrs FennerThe table gives the amount of all forms of nitrogen applied by farmers in England and Wales as inorganic fertiliser (straights and compounds) in each of the years 1974–75 to 1983–84:
'000 tonnes plant food 1974–75 787.5 1975–76 850.8 1976–77 879.0 1977–78 924.0 1978–79 941.0 1979–80 1,031.0 1980–81 1,100.0 1981–82 1,180.0 1982–83 1,227.0 1983–84 1,316.0 The Survey of Fertiliser Practice, compiled jointly by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, the Fertiliser Manufacturers Association and Rothamsted experimental station, contains details of fertiliser use. The following information is taken from the latest edition (1983) and relates to average nitrogen applications:
All nitrogen use on tillage and grass 1974–83 (overall kg/ha) England and Wales Tillage Grass All crops and grass 1974 85 94 91 1975 86 99 94 1976 96 98 97 1977 99 110 105 1978 104 113 107 1979 112 117 114 1980 121 119 120 1981 135 125 130 1982 141 123 132 1983 154 125 139 In 1984 the average application on all crops and grass amounted to 147 Kg N/ha.