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Pollution is any harmful addition to the environment and can result from addition of fertiliser leaching

Water pollution is caused by leaching of fertilisers from effluent, run off of fertilisers and slurry.

Air pollution is caused by volatilisation ( becomes gas) of ammonia and nitrous oxide from spreading fertilisers like urea.
Greenhouse gases like methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide cause global warming. This means that when these are released in atmosphere they keep the heat of the sun in the atmosphere at end of day and don’t release heat into space. Global warming has caused climate change where the weather patterns have changed causing an increase in flooding, severe storms and hotter summers.
Methane is made by cows and sheep by bacteria in their digestive system and is released into the atmosphere through burping, manure/slurry.
Nitrous oxide is made by volatilisation of nitrous oxide from fertilisers like urea.

Eutrophication The artificial overenrichment of an environment with nutrients - e.g. milk waste, slurry, fertilisers

When nutrients enter a waterway it causes algal bloom due to over enrichment ie algae use nutrients in water to grow out of control. When algae die the microorganisms in soil break down the algae causing the oxygen supply in the water to be used up.  This then causes fish kills and destroys all life in the lake.

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is amount of dissolved oxygen needed to break down organic material in a water sample. Milk has highest followed by silage, slurry and lowest being raw domestic sewage.

Nitrates Directive
Are laws that restrict the spreading of fertiliser on farms.
Fertilisers can’t be spread on
- waterlogged land
- flooded land
- if it is raining/snowing within 48 hours
- sloped land

Leaching is where soil minerals are washed out of the soil by dissolving in rainwater, this rainwater then drains into water table or to nearby water supply like river, lake or sea.

Carbon Sequestration is the capturing and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the soil by organisms, reducing carbon dioxide in atmosphere.

Min till operations where possible prevent soil erosion  along with use of cover crops to prevent soil being left bare. Addition of manure with stubble adds organic matter to soil helping structure and carbon sequestration levels from organisms in manure to be kept constant.

Practices for sustainable land use
Crop rotation
Nutrient management programme
Soil testing
Min till no till
Irrigation of land or drainage
Encourage biodiversity

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Poaching is the compaction of soil from the weight of the animal and the presence of wet conditions.
Heavy machinery can also cause compaction of soils

Poaching and compaction can be lessened by
1. Use min-till -reduce amount of times soil is tilled or don’t till at all
2. Use tramlines in tillage crops
3. Reduce stocking densities of livestock
4. Use rotational grazing systems where land and grass gets a chance to regenerate
5. When soil water is at field capacity don’t use machinery on land or carry out any operations
6. Avoid putting animals out on saturated land

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1. Poaching and compaction of clay soils with poor drainage.
2. Manure from animals improves the nutrient content of soil.
3. Earthworms improve the structure, drainage and aeration of the soil by channelling through soil and add nutrients when eat soil and produce waste. They also mix layers of soil and contribute to decomposition of organic materials
4. Invertebrate animals e.g. beetles help with decomposition of organic materials like leaves improving the structure of the soil and the nutrient content.

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Correct your soil fertility with 5 simple steps #Grass10

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Why?
-Allows access to land for heavy machinery as soil isn’t as soft if drained,
-prevents poaching of soil by animals,
-increases nutrients available in soil as less leaching when there is less water in soil,
-reduces likelihood of pests like liverfluke as liverfluke relies on snails to complete the lifecycle of liverfluke.

How?
Groundwater drainage system uses underground pipes that collect water from soil and transport the water to outfall where it drains into a river, lake or sea.

Shallow water drainage system where soil is broken up using a subsoiler or a mole plough creates holes in soil that increase drainage capacity

Benefits of soil drainage:
- allows heavy machinery onto soil without sinking,
- allows nutrients to remain in soil,
- less pests in soil,
- less poaching and
- grazing system can be extended

Soil drainage needed
- heavy clay soils as less permeability
- areas where rainfall level is high
- soils that are clay or have high water tables where there is less percolation

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Nitrogen    Component of chlorophyll and DNA and amino acids (make proteins)
Function make chlorophyll, DNA and proteins

Deficiency Slow growth, Pale green, necrosis of older leaves

Phosphorous energy Transfer, transfer DNA to new cell
Function growth and reproduction, seed developement

DeficiencyStunted growth

Potassium
Function
Activates plant enzymes, makes proteins, translocation of carbohydrates
Deficiency   reduced crop yield, scorching of leaves along margins, lodging

What affects the availability of nutrients? pH of soil

Phosphorous
Function required for growth and reproduction, transfer of DNA to new cells, stalk formation, seed formation

Phosphorous immobilisation
It is soluble in water and forms insoluble compounds at pH below 5 and above 7.5, so uptake by plants depends on pH

Deficient Stunted growth, lack of fruit/flowers, lodging, discoloured blue purple leaves

Key Terms:
Lodging weak stalks and falls over

Chlorosis yellowing of leaves due to lack of chlorophyll

Inorganic/Synthetic Fertiliser Chemical fertilisers

Organic Fertiliser fertilisers made from manure, slurry - made of carbon

Manure mixture of dung, urine and straw

Organic matter any thing made of carbon

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Why?  Allows farmer to determine nutrients that are available in their soil and determine suitability for crop growth

What is being tested? N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Co, Mb, Mn, pH, lime required

Equipment used: soil auger

Pattern:  W shape through the field avoiding areas that are not representative like at entrances or exits to field

Guidelines:  take 20 sample, 10cm deep in the shape of W through the field using soil auger

Soil Index system:  index 1 very low in nutrients and will respond to fertiliser
index 2 is low in nutrients and will likely respond to fertiliser
index 3 medium in nutrient and will unlikely respond to fertiliser and index 4 is high excess nutrients and won't respond to fertiliser

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Straight Fertiliser  contains only one of the essential nutrients

Examples:  Calcium ammonium nitrate, and urea

Compound Fertilisers contain 2 or more straight fertilisers

Examples:  10-10-20, 27-2.5-10 used in grasslands or cereal crops

Correct storage of fertiliser:
away from other chemicals in locked press/shed, 10m away from waterways or drains, away from any heat source

Health & Safety risks and precautions for using fertiliser:

oxidising can cause other materials to go on fire.
volatilisation can produce toxic gases
can cause irritation to eyes and lungs and skin
Spreading Fertiliser: use automated sprayer, wear gloves, goggles and respiratory protection
can be spread in soil in seed drills close to seeds or broadcast on soil and harrowed in prior to sowing or used as a top dressing after seeds sown on established crop

Machinery used: automated sprayer

Methods of Spreading:
1.placed in seed drill
2. broadcast
3. top dressing

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Composition dung, urine & straw vs liquid manure, dung and urine
Application Muck spreader vs slurry spreader
Storage on impermeable layer vs in tank underneath slatted shed floor
Effect on soil contributes to organic matter, helps soil structure , releases nutrients while it decomposes, less nutrients vs releases nutrients into soil, absorbed quickly by soil so faster response, can spread pests and weeds like dock
Toxicity not toxic vs produces toxic gases when crust is broken or slurry is mixed - hydrogen sulphide, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia
Organic Matter content high vs low
Release of nutrients low vs high

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Gases in Slurry hydrogen suffice, ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide

Effect of gases on humans/animals hydrogen sulphide very toxic and dense gas that settles at ground levels, inhalation results in death, ammonia is an irritant and can cause burning of respiratory system, eyes and skin

Precautions when agitating slurry or breaking the crust
For the first two hours after agitation have all living things removed, keep area well ventilated, do on breezy day preferably, wear breathing apparatus and ensure 2 people there, .
Ensure fence/barrier prevent people falling in and any opening should have a child safety cover fitted for extra safety.

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Soil Management Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

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Soil Management Leaving Cert Agricultural Science