THE STRATEGY OF A FARMER TO ACT ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE NITRATE DIRECTIVE: ARE THE PRESENT PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES ENOUGH?

Abstract

EU accepted series of decrees, regulations and guidelines which are directed to assure undamaged natural sources for the next generations. The main addressee of them is farmer; the arrangements are designed in a way that direct payments are lowered or taken away if the prescribed requirements are not fulfilled by the farmer, namely. Among the most important limitations in the agricultural production are the requirements with the reference to the nitrate directive. Farmer is faced with the dilemma how to act that the allowed tolerance concerning nitrogen will not be exceeded. Principles of good agricultural practise or guidelines for professional fertilisation are usually not good enough as a basis to protect against possible crossing of the admissible nitrogen balance. According to the results of two static long term experiments at the locations with different growing conditions follows that farmer will need qualified experts who will be able to become real advisors only if they will be qualified according to results of a bigger number of adequately designed field experiments.