Agricultural environmental protection

Storage facilities in general

Storage facilities for farmyard manure must be functional and leak-proof. They must be constructed and operated in accordance with the FOEN and FOAG guidelines on environmental protection in agriculture, module " Structural environmental protection in agriculture".

Storage of liquid manure and silage juices

Slurry tanks must be fitted with permanently effective covers. For existing tanks, a remediation period of 2 years, in cases of hardship of max. 4 years, is imposed.

Storage capacities for liquid manure and silage juices (including waste water entering the slurry pit) must be created for the following periods, depending on the altitude of the majority of cultivated land:

a) up to 700 m above sea level: 5 months;
b) above 700 m above sea level: 6 months.

Storage of manure

Manure may only be stored on paved and sealed areas with drainage into
a slurry tank (or other sealed container).

Manure may only be stored in paved and sealed areas with drainage into
a slurry tank (or other sealed container).

Manure may be stored on natural ground if

• the distance to surface waters[1], drained roads and paths, hedges and forests is at least 10 meters;
• it is ensured that no manure juices escape;
• the manure is covered (exception: if stored for a maximum of 7 days);
• the maximum storage period is 6 weeks.

Manure may not be stored

• in water protection areas, protection zones and areas;
• on drained areas;
• in hollows and steeply sloping terrain;
• in the vicinity of drainage shafts.
• The storage of poultry manure is prohibited.

[1] measured from the top of the slope

General information on application

The FOEN and FOAG guidelines on environmental protection in agriculture, module "Nutrients and use of fertilizers in agriculture", must be observed.

Nitrogen-containing fertilizers may only be applied at times when the plants can absorb the nitrogen. The application quantities must be determined on the basis of the nutrient balance of the respective area.

Liquid manure may only be applied if the soil is absorbent and receptive. It may not be spread if the soil is waterlogged, frozen[1], snow-covered or dried out.

Manure may not be spread if the soil is saturated with water
or covered in snow.

When spreading liquid recycled fertilizers (biogas slurry), the regulations for liquid manure apply. When spreading solid recycled fertilizers (compost), the regulations for manure apply.

Vegetation dormancy

In principle, no nitrogenous fertilizers such as slurry and manure may be applied during the dormant season. The vegetation rest period is defined as follows in accordance with the GSchV:

• up to 800 m above sea level: December 15 - February 15
• above 800 to 1200 m above sea level: December 1 - February 28
• above 1200 m above sea level: November 15 - March 15

If the special needs of plant cultivation require fertilization outside of these periods, such fertilizers may only be applied if there is no risk of harming the water. In any case, the application requires the approval of the Office for the Environment.

At the request of the Association of Farmers' Organizations (VBO), the Office for the Environment may permit the application of farmyard manure during the dormant season in defined areas(map of drained areas) if the weather and temperatures permit.

Restrictions on spreading on certain areas

In principle, any spreading of fertilizers is prohibited in water protection zone S1. No liquid farmyard manure may be spread in S2. Further restrictions set out in the separate ordinances for each water protection zone must be observed.

The application of fertilizers and PPPs is prohibited within the watercourse area and within a strip 3 metres ^wide1 along surface waters.

No fertilizers or PPPs may be applied along forests, hedges and copses within a 3-metre-wide buffer strip.
Strips of grass at least 0.5 meters wide must be left along field paths and roads. Fertilizers and pesticides may not be applied to these strips (but this does not count as ÖAF).

No farmyard manure may be applied within nature conservation areas and areas under contract to manage rough pastures. When applying farmyard manure, the width of the buffer strip along a nature reserve must be chosen in such a way that the nature reserve is not negatively affected by the nutrients applied.

The application of farmyard manure is prohibited on eligible ecological areas (extensively used meadows and litter areas).

An exception is the "less intensively used meadow". Here, the spreading of a limited amount of manure or compost is permitted (but no spreading of liquid manure).

[1] Screwdriver (No. 3 or 4) can no longer be pushed into the ground with a flat hand in several places on the plot.
[2] Map of permitted areas for farmyard manure application during a fertilization window

Storage of silage bales and sausages

Silage bales and sausages may only be stored on paved areas without drainage into surface water or on the fertilizable usable area.

Silage bales and sausages may be stored on natural ground if

• the distance to surface waters[1], hedges and forests is at least 3 meters;
• it is ensured that the foil of the silage bales and sausages is undamaged and that no silage juices escape.

Silage bales and sausages may not be stored

• in water protection areas, protection zones and areas;
• on drained areas(map of drained areas)
  

[1] measured from the top edge of the slope

From January 2023, Article 552 paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of the Ordinance on Air Pollution Control (LRV) stipulates that liquid manure and liquid fermentation products must be spread in the valley area and adjacent slopes using suitable methods with the lowest possible emissions. The corresponding areas are shown in Annex 2a of the LRV.

Subject to any contrary provisions of the Liechtenstein Ordinance on Air Pollution Control, the FOEN enforcement aid on environmental protection in agriculture, in particular the module on nutrients and the use of fertilizers in agriculture, applies.

Inquiries at landwirtschaft@llv.li

Irrigation of agricultural crops

The "Water abstraction from watercourses" information sheet applies to the requirements for mobile abstraction systems for the irrigation of agricultural crops.