Buffer zones along watercourses help to prevent sediment, nutrient loss and pesticides entering water courses.
This was one of the key themes profiled by Teagasc at this year’s National Ploughing Championships.
According to Teagasc tillage specialist, Ciaran Collins, a buffer zone is an area of land adjacent to a water feature in which certain agricultural activities are prohibited.
The width of a buffer zone varies depending on the activity taking place in the field.
“For late-harvested crops, a minimum uncultivated buffer of 6m shall be put in place to protect any intersecting watercourses.
“A late-harvested crop includes vegetable crops harvested after September 15, as well as fodder beet, sugar beet, main crop potatoes and maize excluding cereal crops and beans,” he said.
An intersecting watercourse is defined by a land parcel that is sloped towards it.
As a consequence, any surface water run-off would drain into that watercourse. In such instances, the buffer increases from 3m to 6m.
For plant protection products (PPPs), a minimum 3m no spray buffer zone applies to all watercourses.
However, a PPP authorisation may prescribe a buffer zone which is greater than 3m. A PPP buffer zone can be reduced by the use of drift reducing nozzles.
But it cannot be reduced further than 3m.
Buffer zones
Buffer zones have been defined for a range of field activities. Where the spreading of organic manures is concerned, it must be 5m in width.
In cases where the slope of a field in the direction of a water course exceeds 10%, the above figure increases to 10m.
Organic fertiliser buffers also increase to 10m for the two weeks before and after the prohibited spreading period.
Buffer strips can be fenced or unfenced, and planted with grass or trees. They can help intercept and absorb excess nutrients before they reach water.
Buffer strips should be placed along areas where nutrients are likely to be lost, such as ditches and drains.
Buffer zones also provide other environmental benefits, such as:Â providing a habitat for biodiversity, alleviating flood threats, greenhouse gas (GHG) exchanges, and recreational services.
The protection of waters – including drains, watercourses, streams, lakes and wells – from nutrient, sediment and pesticide losses is a key part of the nitrates regulations.
When farmers are applying fertilisers, cultivating and spraying fields, they need to be aware that they are required to utilise riparian buffer zones to help minimise any potential losses.