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Measures and management challenges  

Member States are implementing different kinds of measures to reduce nutrient pollution from agriculture. Those measures include for example imposing restrictions on organic fertilizer application (e.g. in compliance with the Nitrates Directive to 170 kg N/ha at farm level), or restrictions in the application conditions for mineral and organic fertilizer and the amount of application of certain types of fertilizer during specific periods (e.g. no spreading of manure during winter). For this, some Member States have limited the total applicable nitrogen for all crops, to inform farmers about their obligation and to facilitate progress in the implementation of the Nitrates Directive (EC 2019e). To further improve efficient nutrient use, the EU Farm to Fork Strategy includes integrated nutrient management action plans to tackle nutrient pollution at source, and to reduce pollution from fertilizer by 50% and their use by 20 % (EC, 2020b).

Further strategies to reduce diffuse nutrient pollution are extensification and expanding the scope of organic farming, the use of precision farming with new digital technologies and innovative monitoring concepts (e.g. remote sensing) as well as the reduction of livestock density. Technical measures include catch cropping, the use of ground coverings and of tillage methods, establishing buffer strips with strict use restrictions, or increase manure storage capacity at farm level. Manure storage can improve the timing of application to minimise the risk of excessive leaching into the water environment. Advisory services should lead to better informed farmers with concrete and relevant information and increase the acceptance to implement measures.