Summary
RB209 is the principal nutrient management reference guide for UK agriculture, produced and maintained by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). It consolidates decades of field trial data and agronomic research to provide crop-specific recommendations for major and minor nutrients across arable, horticultural, and grassland systems. The 2024 edition is likely to reflect updates to nitrogen use efficiency guidance, revised soil index thresholds, and alignment with current environmental regulations including those relating to nitrate vulnerable zones.
UK applicability
This guide is produced specifically for UK conditions, soils, and regulatory frameworks, making it directly applicable to English, Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish farming practice. It is widely used by agronomists, farmers, and advisers as the standard reference for nutrient planning and compliance with cross-compliance and water quality legislation.
Key measures
Nutrient application rates (kg/ha); soil nutrient indices (0–4 scale); crop-specific nitrogen recommendations; manure nutrient values; fertiliser efficiency metrics
Outcomes reported
The guide provides evidence-based recommendations for nutrient application rates, soil indices, and manure management across a wide range of crops and farming systems. It reports on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and sulphur requirements to optimise yield, economic returns, and environmental outcomes.
Topic tags
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