Innovative nutrient planning tool helps match nutrients to crop and soil need

Defra has launched a new free nutrient management planning tool (NMPT-GB) which is intended to support productivity and protect watercourses from pollution while helping farmers reduce waste.

The free, easy-to-use, web-based  tool helps farmers and land managers to cut pollution and boost productivity by targeting planning of fertiliser and manure use.

By matching nutrient inputs such as nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur, and lime to crop and soil needs, the tool helps farmers create, improve and revise nutrient management plans. This will maximise nutrient availability for food production while reducing nutrient losses to water and air, supporting the strategic aims of the Food Strategy and the Environment Improvement Plan 2023.

Designed to be more user-friendly than previous decision support tools, the new tool helps users learn and comply with nutrient regulations through on-screen guidance, in-tool alerts and warnings, and links to relevant external information.

The NMPT-GB is available now for England and Wales, via the GOV.UK website, with a Scotland release expected later this year.

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