Maintenance fertiliser nutrient requirements are the amount of nutrients required to maintain soil tests for the non-camp part of the block (the area that is typically sampled). This is driven largely by the difference between nutrient inputs and outputs from the non-camp part of the block.
If default soil tests have been used, the maintenance is calculated to maintain that nutrient status. Up to date soil tests for each block will give the best assessment of maintenance requirements to maintain current production.
If the farm is wanting to increase soil fertility, a capital application will need to be applied. Seek advice from your fertiliser company to ensure the right nutrients are used in the right place.
Any farm-sourced effluent applied onto blocks is included in the estimation of maintenance nutrient requirements (those required to maintain soil tests at the same level). Hence, maintenance P requirements on an effluent block are generally 30-60% of those on an equivalent non-effluent block at the same Olsen P levels.
Maintenance requirements can be found in the Block Details report.