Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 13 October 2021

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Nitrates Directive, Water Quality and Pollution: Discussion

Mr. Jack Nolan:

To the best of my knowledge, watery slurry can be lost more quickly like that, particularly with heavy rainfall. It is also more likely to be taken up by the plants. All things being equal, we are better with a watery slurry being applied in the growing season, which would be next March and April. That would bring maximum uptake. The grass growth curve will kick off in January and anything can be applied from then on when soil and weather conditions are right. It will not go through the soil that quickly as long as the plant is growing.