News Nitrogen
Despite less livestock, still nitrogen surplus in 2018
Despite the reduction in livestock numbers, the nitrogen surplus in agriculture increased in 2018 compared to 2017. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands on the basis of balance data for the minerals nitrogen and phosphorus in Dutch agriculture.
The surplus increased to 2018 million kilos in 330, an increase of 8% compared to 2017. Of this 330 million kilos, 241 million kilos were lost to the soil, which is 13% more than in 2017. The loss of nitrogen to the air, on the other hand, has fallen to 89 million kilos, a decrease of 5% compared to 2017.
The surplus is partly due to the dry summer and a decrease in the sale of animal manure outside of agriculture. Despite the reduction in livestock, the surplus has still increased. The dry summer has resulted in lower harvests, which means less nitrogen is absorbed by grass and crops.
Decrease in nitrogen uptake and nitrogen deposition
The fixation of nitrogen in animal and plant products decreased in 2018 compared to 2017. The fixation of nitrogen in plant products decreased by 11%, the fixation in animal products decreased by 3%.
The decrease in animal product sequestration was due to the reduction in livestock. The number of dairy cows had decreased by 2018% at the end of 11 compared to the beginning of 2017. The number of calves, heifers and heifers decreased by 25% during that period. The reason for the rapid decline is the phosphate reduction plan. The sale of animal manure outside of agriculture fell by 2018% in 6 to 76 million kilos.
Declining supply of nitrogen
The supply of nitrogen in agriculture has decreased. The total decrease in 2018 was 39 kilos compared to the previous year. This was achieved by a decrease in the supply of nitrogen in concentrates and fertilizers. The nitrogen supply in concentrates decreased by 2018% in 3 compared to the previous year. The supply of nitrogen from fertilizers has decreased by 10%. This decrease is partly due to the shrinking of the livestock.
Nitrogen surplus in recent years
Until 2014 there was a decrease in the nitrogen surplus. The surplus had then decreased by as much as 55% compared to 1990. Since 2014, the surplus has increased again and in recent years it has not been able to reach the 2014 minimum. Since 2014, the loss of nitrogen to the soil has increased more than the loss of nitrogen to air.
Chanti Oussoren
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
