Summary
RB209, published by AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board), is the authoritative UK reference for nutrient management planning across arable, horticultural and grassland systems. Now in its ninth edition, it consolidates decades of agronomic research and field trial data to provide practical recommendations for fertiliser and organic material applications. The guide is widely used by agronomists, farmers and regulators as a standard reference for sustainable, cost-effective nutrient management in line with UK environmental and production objectives.
UK applicability
RB209 is specifically developed for UK farming conditions, soil types and regulatory contexts, and is directly applicable to practice in England, Wales and Scotland. It is frequently referenced in agri-environment scheme compliance, nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations, and farm nutrient management plans.
Key measures
Nutrient application rates (kg/ha); soil nutrient indices (P, K, Mg); crop nitrogen requirements; organic matter contributions; livestock manure nutrient values
Outcomes reported
The guide provides evidence-based recommendations for the application of organic and inorganic fertilisers to optimise nutrient use efficiency across a range of crop and grassland systems. It covers nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sulphur and other nutrients, with associated soil index frameworks.
Topic tags
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