News Mineral Balance
Nitrogen surplus in agriculture is increasing slightly
The nitrogen surplus in the agricultural sector in 2020 - at 307 million kilos - was approximately 4,5% higher than one year previously, according to the Agriculture Mineral Balance of Statistics Netherlands (CBS). There was 5 million kilos more nitrogen supplied from both concentrates and fertilizers. In addition, 3 million kilos less nitrogen was removed via vegetable products, mainly due to a smaller wheat harvest.
The nitrogen surplus was calculated by reducing the amount of nitrogen supplied (including in the form of concentrates and fertilizers) by the amount recorded in animal and plant products and the nitrogen sold outside agriculture, according to Statistics Netherlands.
More nitrogen from concentrates and fertilizers
The two main sources of nitrogen in the agricultural sector in 2020 were concentrated feed (415 million kilos) and fertilizer (220 million kilos). In both cases, the supply was 5 million kilos higher than in 2019. The nitrogen surplus partly depends on the fixation of nitrogen in plant products. Two years ago, there were no exceptional weather conditions that had a major effect on the harvest. In total, 84 million kilos of nitrogen was removed via vegetable products, 3 million kilos less than in 2019. Due to a decrease in acreage, less wheat was harvested in particular. Furthermore, 208 million kilos of nitrogen were removed via animal products, less than 1% more than in 2019.
In 2018, the nitrogen surplus was 330 million kilos. In 2019 there was a decrease and the nitrogen surplus was 285 million kilos. In 1986 the nitrogen surplus in the agricultural sector was still 775 million kilos. In 2006 that had halved to 389 million kilos.
Fertilizer use increased 2010% from 2020 to 7
Statistics Netherlands makes a comparison with ten years earlier in a press release; then the surplus was almost as high as in 2020. There are, however, differences in inflows and outflows. In ten years, the removal of nitrogen from animal products increased by 11 million kilos (+6%) and the sale of nitrogen from outside the agricultural sector (including export, manure processing and use by private individuals) increased by 3 million kilos to 73 million kilograms. The use of fertilizers has increased by 7% in the last ten years to 220 million kilos.
The surplus of nitrogen to the air decreased by about 6% in ten years to 88 million kilos. This is evident from the figures from the statistical service. The surplus to the bottom simultaneously increased from 212 million kilos to 219 million kilos, an increase of 3%.
Nitrogen deposition falls in ten years
Nitrogen deposition, the precipitation of nitrogen particles from the air on the soil and in the water, decreased in ten years from 44 million kilos (2010) to 34 million kilos (2020), a decrease of 23%. The nitrogen deposition to agricultural land of agricultural origin decreased by 6%. Those from outside agriculture, such as industry and traffic, decreased by 33%. The nitrogen volatilization from stables has decreased from 67 million kilos (2010) to 59 million kilos (2020). This is mainly due to the use of lower-emission technologies such as air scrubbers.
Linda van Eekeres
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