STUDY ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC NUTRIENTS AT THE FARM LEVEL IN THE DEVELOPMENT MACRO REGIONS 1 AND 2 IN ROMANIA

Abstract

The management of organic nutrients at farm level is essential for agricultural sustainability and environmental protection, with the main objective of efficiently using the farm's own resources (manure, plant residues etc.) and reducing pollution (especially with nitrates). An efficient management requires an integrated vision at farm level, treating animal manure and plant residues
not as garbage but as valuable resources for soil fertility. Maximizing the use of nutrients from animal manure and plant residues on the farm (part of the plant-animal cycle) must be achieved in accordance with regulations regarding compliance with legal norms, in particular those of the Nitrates Directive, which impose restrictions on the quantity (max. 170 kg/ha/year organic fertilizers), but also those regarding the period of their application, namely the prohibition of the application of organic fertilizers during periods of vegetative dormancy or when the risk of runoff/leakage is high (for example - on frozen, flooded or snow-covered soil). The study conducted in the development macro regions 1 and 2 was based on the method of questionnaires addressed directly to farmers in the mentioned area who use organic fertilizers (manure, plant residues or sewage sludge) on their farms. From the total number of respondents, 50% mentioned the use of this practice on a regular basis, and 66.7% stated that they have been using this practice for over 10 years, having as their source of manure exclusively their own farm. Another aspect highlighted by the research was that relating to the average amount of organic fertilizer applied per unit area, a dose that ranged between 10 t/ha and 20 t/ha of fermented or semi-fermented manure together with the plant residues of the crops established on the farm.