Glossary

Band spreader - a boom is mounted behind the tractor or tanker where there are a number of evenly spaced flexible pipes. The fertiliser travels down these pipes to be deposited on the soil or crop surface.

Broadcast spreading - uses a farm implement spreading fertiliser or seeds where no row planting is required and is an alternative to drop spreaders (splash plate or nozzles). The slurry is forced under pressure through a nozzle, often onto an inclined plate to increase the sideways spread.

Closed-slot/deep injection spreader - slurry is injected under the soil surface at over 150 mm of depth.

Cover crop - any non-cash crop, planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. These crops have the potential to increase soil organic matter and fertility, improve soil structure, promote water infiltration, reduce erosion,  and limit disease and pest outbreaks.

Cropping land - area of land available for cropping.

Deep litter systems - a type of animal housing system where repeated layers of litter (such as straw or sawdust), are used for bedding and for animals to defecate in. New layers of litter are continuously added. Also known as the 'build-up method'.

Inversion tillage - often practiced by ploughing, this method flips over topsoil, burying the surface residues and sowing seeds within it.

Mixed sward/multispecies sward - a grass mixture that is made up of two or more species including grasses, brassicas, legumes, and herbs. Also known as herbal leys.

Mineral fertilisers - the inorganic substances consisting of essential micronutrients which are applied to the soil to enhance the phyto-availability of micronutrient content in soil, and so improve the quality of crops.

Nutrient management plan - a document that outlines how to manage nutrients effectively to minimise environmental impacts while maximising economic benefits. It involves balancing crop nutrient needs with nutrients applied and typically includes soil test results, manure/ biosolids analyses (if applicable), yield goals and plans for the timing, amount, form, placement, and application of nutrients.

Open-slot/shallow injection spreader - slurry is injected under the soil surface at up to 50 mm depth.

Organic waste fertilisers - fertilisers that are naturally produced i.e. peat and animal wastes including manure and slurry, treated sewage sludge, plant wastes from agriculture such as compost and biosolids, and inorganic fertilisers including minerals and ash.

Ploughing - using machinery or tools to turn over soil, the soil is cut through and lifted creating furrows. Note ploughing differs from tilling.

Protected urea - urea fertiliser products with an added inhibitor to decrease nitrogen losses, designed to deliver a more efficient use of nitrogen and increase urea effectiveness.

Reduced/conservation tillage – a type of tillage which minimises any disturbance to the soil and organic matter, which promotes long-term health and sustainability of soil. These methods have environmental and economic benefits.

Slurry - excreta produced by livestock (other than poultry), while in a building or yard (including any bedding, rainwater and washings mixed with it), that has a consistency which allows it to be discharged by gravity or pumped.

Tillage - preparation of soil for growing crops. Typically, this involves clearing the land, followed by the use of machinery such as a tiller or cultivator to loosen and aerate soil creating a smooth even surface for planting seeds, cuttings, or seedlings. Note tilling differs from ploughing.

Trailing hose spreader– the boom of the spreader has multiple hoses connected to it, distributing the slurry close to the ground in bands or strips.

Trailing shoe spreader – similar to a trailing hose spreader but with a 'shoe' attached to each hose allowing the slurry to be deposited under the crop canopy onto the soil.

Waste based fertilisers - fertilisers derived from various waste materials.

Zero tillage - an agricultural technique that does not disturb the soil through tillage. Also known as zero-till, no till farming or direct drilling. This means no cultivation machinery is used to prepare the land for crops reducing soil disturbance. The direct drill method is used to plant crops.