FACTS Northern Ireland - Basis
FACTS Northern Ireland - Basis
FACTS Northern Ireland - Basis
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SAMPLE FERTILISER SCENARIO<br />
The following scenario is an example of the type of question which will be asked in future <strong>FACTS</strong> exams.<br />
The questions which follow are an example of the type which could be asked.<br />
The exam paper will include a number of similar questions to those listed here which are designed to test<br />
the candidates’ ability, using the available information in RB209 the Soil Nitrogen Supply Index and/or a<br />
Nutrient Management Plan for the crop.<br />
The number of questions asked will reflect the time given for candidates to complete the paper.<br />
Pass mark will be 70%<br />
SAMPLE FERTILISER SCENARIO<br />
The farm is on a sandy clay loam soil. Mean annual rainfall is 620mm and average excess winter<br />
rainfall is 165mm.<br />
Soil analysis for the field is: pH 6.7, P 2 (20mg/l), K l (90mg/l), Mg 2(75 mg/l)<br />
The farmer has a supply of farmyard manure from a beef enterprise sufficient to apply to one crop in<br />
the rotation each year at a rate of approximately 25t/ha.<br />
The rotation for the farm is:<br />
Year 1<br />
Year 2<br />
Year 3<br />
Year 4<br />
Year 5<br />
Year 6<br />
Winter wheat<br />
Winter wheat<br />
Potatoes – Estima (maincrop) irrigated for ware (115 days)<br />
Winter wheat<br />
Winter wheat<br />
Winter oilseed rape<br />
The farm typically achieves 9 t/ha on first wheats and 8 t/ha on second wheats. First wheats are sold<br />
for milling and second wheats sold for feed. All cereal straw is baled for use or sale. Typical yields<br />
for potatoes and oilseed rape are 50 t/ha and 3.5 t/ha respectively. The farm routinely samples in<br />
the spring following the potato crop. SMN levels at this time (early February) are typically 85 kg<br />
N/ha to 90 cm.<br />
a) What is the Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) Index for the wheat crop following potatoes based on<br />
the field assessment method<br />
Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) Index =<br />
b) What is the Soil Nitrogen Supply Index using the Soil Mineral Nitrogen (SMR) analysis<br />
method for the wheat crop following potatoes. State any assumptions that you made in<br />
finding the SNS Index.<br />
Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS) Index =<br />
Assumptions:-<br />
c) Using the SNS Index calculated by the SMN analysis method in (b) and the soil analysis for<br />
the field given above, what would be the fertiliser recommendation for nitrogen, phosphate<br />
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