Report from Manure Bank
Manure rules increase the use of fertilizer in Flanders
A recently published report by the Manure Bank (part of the Flemish Land Agency) shows that the use of fertilizer in Flanders in 2016 increased to 68 kilos of nitrogen per hectare. Ten years earlier, that was 10 kilos per hectare.
The stricter rules regarding the fertilization standards MAP-3 (2007), MAP-4 (2011) and MAP-5 (2015) translate into a decrease in the use of animal manure on agricultural land: 92,1 million kilos of nitrogen and 40,6 million kilograms of phosphate. Compared to 2007, this is a decrease of 8,5% and 16% respectively.
About two thirds of the crop requirement for nitrogen can be met with animal manure, the rest is supplemented with fertilizers and to a lesser extent with other fertilizers (compost and digestate). In recent years, the ratio of nitrogen to phosphate in animal manure has increased. This may indicate that farmers are fertilizing more efficiently.
Cattle manure most popular
The report also shows that in Flanders mainly cattle manure is used (66,4 million kilos of nitrogen). In second place is the use of pig manure (20,8 million kilos of nitrogen). About half of all pig manure is spread on agricultural land. The other half of the pig manure is processed and exported.
Increase in fertilizer use
The research shows that while the use of animal manure on fields and pastures is declining, the use of fertilizers is increasing. This increase has been observed since 2007. In the Manure Bank declarations for 2016, 46 million kilos of nitrogen from fertilizers were declared. In 2007, there was still 36,8 million kilos of nitrogen from fertilizers, which corresponds to an increase of 54 to 68 kilos of nitrogen per hectare.
While the use of nitrogen from fertilizers has increased, the use of phosphates from fertilizers is falling (to 1 million kilos in 2016), the report shows. This concerns a decrease of 2,9 to 1,4 kilos of phosphate per hectare in 10 years. This is prompted by the tight phosphate standard, which is usually completely filled in with animal manure. In addition to the stricter policy, it is also striking that the prices for fertilizer and the amounts of precipitation influence the use of fertilizer.
Click here's the whole report of the Manure Bank.
Kimberly Baker
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