Scientific results help the revision of the nitrate regulation

By: STA Date: 2024. 04. 29. 09:30

In order to develop a well-founded policy, long-term cooperation with scientific actors and professional organizations is necessary. This is proven by the 5-year research program launched by the Ministry of Agriculture with the cooperation of the Soil Science Institute of the HUN-REN Agricultural Research Center.

(Photo: Pixabay)

The part of the Nitrate Decree, which defines domestic plant growing conditions from the point of view of nutrient management, containing the maximum number of active substances that can be applied, was developed more than 15 years ago. In the past period, there have been significant changes in almost all of the factors that determine the utilization of nutrients: due to genetic progress, there has been a significant development in the ability of plants to utilize nutrients, in the production technology of the fertilizers used, and in the data collection systems of agricultural power and work machines, and thanks to this, in their adaptation capabilities. The values fixed in the decree do not keep up with this development, based on the comments of producers, in many cases in nitrate-sensitive areas with good agricultural conditions, the amount of nitrogen uptake by the plants is already much higher than the permitted maximum values, so the genetic potential of the plants cannot be exploited while adhering to the current values.

Scientific preparation was necessary to amend the legislation, as domestic regulations must comply with the emission reduction obligations set out in EU directives

For this reason, the Ministry of Agriculture launched a research program several years ago, in the framework of which the Institute of Soil Science of the Agricultural Research Center examined the possibility of increasing the maximum amount of nitrogen active material that can be applied. The experiments have been completed, and the results can be used for the revision of