6N20463 Sustainable Farming in the Environment Assignment 1, 2026
7 min read 6N20463 Assignment 1
| Module Code: Module Title | 6N20463 Sustainable Farming in the Environment | |
| Learning Outcome 11 | Draw up and interpret key elements of a Nutrient Management Programme (30%) | |
| Assessment | Assignment 1 | |
| Instructions to candidate | Attempt all sections as per tutor instructions Assignments not submitted by the due date will be recorded as 2nd attempt. | |
| Due Date | 2nd September 2026 | |
| Assessment Result | Maximum Mark – 100 | Mark out of 30% |
Part 1
Using the information given complete each section below.
Organic manures and nutrients produced on a farm
This is a suckler farm with the following land use and livestock details
| Ha | % | |
| Total | 44.76 | |
| Grassland | 44.76 | 100 |
| Sampled Area | 44.76 | 100 |
Summary of All Livestock on the Holding; N and P produced
| Animal | No. Animals | N/Head | N Total | P/Head | Total P |
| Suckler Cow | 70 | 65 | 4550 | 13 | 910 |
| Cattle >2 Yrs | 3 | 65 | 195 | 10 | 30 |
| Cattle 1-2 Yrs (Female) | 10 | 55 | 550 | 8 | 80 |
| Cattle 1 – 2 years | 10 | 61 | 610 | 8 | 80 |
| Cattle 0-3 months | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Cattle 3 – 12 months | 41 | 20 | 820 | 3 | 123 |
|
| Total N | 6729 | Total P | 1235 |
Based on the tables above answer the following questions:
1. What are the N and P totals produced by the livestock on this farm? (4marks)
i. Nitrogen _________________ kg
ii. Phosphorus _________________ kg
2. What is the organic nitrogen Kg/ha for the farm? (4marks)
i. Grassland area __________________ kg/N/ha
3. Give two impacts that the stocking rate (from question 2 above) has in relation to the Nitrates Directive (4marks)
4. If a farm goes over the stocking rate limit(170kg/N/ha), give two options that are available to the farmer in order to comply with the Nitrates Directive? (4marks)
Soiled water and washings produced on a farm
5. List two DAFM requirements when it comes to the spreading or storage of soiled water and washings (4marks)
Storage requirements for organic manures/slurry, soiled water and washings for a farm
Calculate if the farm has enough storage for slurry given the information below:
The farm sheds and storage facilities are in good condition. Total storage available is 950m3. The farm is in Zone B and needs 18 weeks storage
Answer the questions below given this information:
Calculate the Slurry storage capacity required (4marks)
| Livestock Type | No. | m3/week1 | Weeks |
| Dairy Cow | 0.33 | ||
| Suckler Cow | 70 | 0.29 | 18 |
| Cattle >2 yrs. | 3 | 0.26 | 18 |
| Cattle 18-24 months | 10 | 0.26 | 18 |
| Cattle 12-18 months | 10 | 0.15 | 18 |
| Cattle 6 – 12 months | 45 | 0.15 | 18 |
| Cattle 0 – 6 months | 0.08 | ||
| Total Amount of Slurry Required | |||
7a . Has the farmer adequate slurry storage? (2 marks)
7b. What spare capacity in weeks should be available on the farm in case weather conditions don’t allow for spreading once the close period finishes. (2 marks)
8. How many more suckler cows could this farm keep for 18 weeks with the current storage? (4 marks)
9. For any farm lacking in slurry storage capacity, give two actions that could be taken? (4 marks)
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Demand
Below are the crops, area and soil sample results for this farm.
| Plot | Crop | Area(Ha) | Soil Sample | Lime Req t/ha | Index N │ P │K |
| 3 | 1 Cut + grazing | 3.9 | RAR3 | 2 | 1 │ 4 │ 2 |
| 4 | 2 Cut + Grazing | 4 | RAR4 | 1.5 | 1 │ 3 │ 3 |
| 5 | Grazing | 3.8 | RAR5 | 3.5 | 1 │ 2 │ 3 |
| 6 | Grazing + reseed | 3.7 | RAR6 | 0 | 1 │ 2 │ 2 |
| 7 | Grazing | 3.5 | RAR7 | 2 | 1 │ 1 │ 1 |
| 8 | 2 Cut + Grazing | 3.75 | RAR8 | 5 | 1 │ 2 │ 2 |
| 1 | Grazing | 3.97 | RAR1 | 6.5 | 1 │ 2 │ 2 |
| 2 | Grazing | 3.68 | RAR2 | 3 | 1 │ 3 │ 3 |
| 11 | Grazing | 3.94 | RAR11 | 0 | 1 │ 4 │ 2 |
| 9 | Grazing | 3.52 | RAR9 | 0 | 1 │ 4│ 2 |
| 10 | Grazing | 3.88 | RAR10 | 0 | 1 │ 4│ 2 |
| 12 | Grazing | 3.88 | RAR12 | 0 | 1 │ 4│ 2 |
Comment on the soil indexes in terms of:
10. Identify all plots at P Index 1 and 2 (4 marks)
11. List two implications of low P levels on a farm? (4 marks)
12. Give two actions could be taken over a three-year period to improve/build the P Indices for these plots? (4 marks)
Soil Sample Results
| Sample ID | Sample Date | Area(Ha) | pH | Lime Req t/ha | Index N│P│K |
| RAR1 | 11/12/2023 | 3.97 | 6.1 | 2 | 1│2│2 |
| RAR2 | 11/12/2023 | 4.29 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 1│3│3 |
| RAR3 | 11/12/2023 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 3.5 | 1│4│2 |
| RAR4 | 11/12/2023 | 4.78 | 6.8 | 0 | 1│3│3 |
| RAR5 | 11/12/2023 | 4.58 | 6.1 | 2 | 1│2│3 |
| RAR6 | 11/12/2023 | 3.25 | 5.7 | 5 | 1│2│2 |
| RAR7 | 11/12/2023 | 4.95 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 1│1│1 |
| RAR8 | 11/12/2023 | 3.12 | 6.0 | 3 | 1│2│2 |
13. Calculate the amount of lime that is required on the farm (show calculations) (4 marks)
14. List four benefits of liming (4 marks)
15. Calculate the fertiliser replacement value of the slurry (the total amount of slurry from Q6). (4 marks)
Fertiliser Replacement Value of Cattle Slurry
1 tonne = 1000 litres= 1m3
| N kg/t | P kg/t | K kg/t | |
| Average Value | 1 | 0.6 | 3.5 |
Amount of slurry from Q 6.
Amount of N, P in the slurry spread on this farm
N _______ Kg of N P Kg of P (B)
16. Calculate the Maximum Chemical N allowed on the Grassland (4 marks)
| Area (Ha) | Max Fertiliser Rate | Total Available Chemical N Allowed | ||
| x | = |
Annual Maximum Chemical N Fertiliser Rates on Grassland
| Grassland Stocking Rate | Available Nitrogen |
| (kg/ha/year) | (kg/ha) |
| <130 | 114 |
| ≤ 170 | 185 |
| Grassland Stocking rate above 170 kg/N/ha/year (Derogation Farms) | |
| 171 – 210 | 254 |
| 211 – 250 | 225 |
17. By using the table from Q9, Calculate the Maximum Chemical P allowed on the Grassland (4 marks)
| Stocking Rate (kg/N/ha) | P Index | Area (ha) | Max P fertiliser Rate (from table below) | Total P(kg) | ||
| 150 | 1 | X | = | |||
| 2 | X | = |
| |||
| 3 | X | = | ||||
| 4 | x | = | ||||
| Maximum P for Grassland | ||||||
| Grassland Stocking Rate (kg/N/year) | Phosphorous Index | |||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Available Phosphorous (kg/ha) | ||||
| <85 | 27 | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| 86 – 130 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| 131 – 170 | 33 | 23 | 13 | 0 |
| Grassland SR >170 Derogation Farms | ||||
| 171 – 210 | 36 | 26 | 16 | 0 |
| >211 | 39 | 29 | 19 | 0 |
Part 2: Home Farm Nutrient Management Planning – Storage Capacity
For this section on the home farm, you will require the following data;
- Average annual stock number – printed from ICBF (for cattle), plus sheep etc
- Stock numbers housed for the winter – for calculation of slurry storage requirement
- Slurry storage facilities – dimensions (length x width x depth – metres). Find the slurry storage capacity in m3
- Dairy Students are required to know the yield of their cows (based on 3-year average)
18. Calculate the N and P produced by livestock on your farm (4 marks)
| Livestock Type | Annual Average No | N excretion/yr | Total N | P excretion/yr | Total P |
| (a) | (b) | (c) = (a) x (b) | (d) | (e)= (a) x (d) | |
| Dairy Cow <4500Kg | 80 | 12 | |||
| Dairy Cow 4500Kg – 6500Kg | 92 | 13.6 | |||
| Dairy Cow >6500Kg | 106 | 15.8 | |||
| Suckler Cow | 65 | 10 | |||
| Cattle >2 years | 65 | 10 | |||
| Cattle (12 – 24 months female) | 55 | 8 | |||
| Cattle (12 – 24 months male) | 61 | 8 | |||
| Cattle (0 – 3 months) | 1 | 3 | |||
| Cattle (4 – 12 months) | 20 | 3 | |||
| Lowland Ewes | 13 | 2 | |||
| Mountain Ewe | 7 | 1 | |||
| Lowland Hogget | 6 | 1 | |||
| Mountain Hogget | 4 | 0.6 | |||
| Pony | 50 | 7 | |||
| Totals | Total N = | Total P = |
19. Calculate your N Kg/ha (4 marks)
| Total N produced from your livestock | Kg/N
|
| Eligible Area of your holding (from LPIS maps) | Hectares
|
| Stocking Rate = Total N/ Number of hectares | Kg/N/Ha
|
Calculate the Organic Fertiliser Storage on Home Farm
20. Calculate the slurry storage requirement on your farm (4 marks)
Note that only stock in slatted sheds (stock that are on straw bedded sheds/ outwintered are not to be included) are to be entered here. You need slurry storage for all stock during the winter period if you are over 130kg/N/Ha
| Livestock Type | No. During Winter | Volume/week | Weeks required | Total Volume |
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) = (a) x(b) x (c) | |
| Dairy Cow | 0.33 m3 | |||
| Suckler Cow | 0.29 m3 | |||
| Cattle >2 years | 0.26 m3 | |||
| Cattle (18 – 24 months) | 0.26 m3 | |||
| Cattle (12 – 18 months) | 0.15 m3 | |||
| Cattle (6 – 12 months) | 0.15 m3 | |||
| Cattle (0 – 6 months) | 0.08 m3 | |||
| Ewes | 0.03 m3 | 6 | ||
| Total Slurry Storage Required for the Winter Housing Period | m3 | |||
21. Calculate the amount of slurry storage available on your farm (4 marks)
| Tank No. | Length (m) | Width (m) | Depth (200mm/ 300mm freeboard) | Capacity m3
|
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (d) = (a x b x c) | |
| Slurry Tower formula: π r2h | ||||
| Total Capacity of existing tanks (m3) | ||||
22. Do you have enough slurry storage on your farm? (4 marks)
| Show calculation on slurry storage available |
Assessment of potential environmental risks and pollution for a farm
Describe two areas on your farm that could be sensitive to pollution from organic or chemical fertiliser application. In your answer explain why the area could be an environmental risk.
23. Sensitive area _________________ (4 marks)
Why is this area at risk of pollution? Is this a point source or diffuse source of pollution?
On
24. Sensitive area __________________________ (4 marks)
Why is this area at risk of pollution? Is this a point source or diffuse source of pollution
25. What can you do to remove the risk of pollution in these areas? (4 marks)
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