Agricultural use of chemical pesticides on some crops in the Netherlands, 1995-2000*
| Total use1) | Use per hectare1) | ||||||||
| 1995 | 1998 | 2000 | Difference | 1995 | 1998 | 2000 | Difference | ||
| 2000 compared to | 2000 compared to | ||||||||
| 1998 | 1998 | ||||||||
| 1 000 kg active ingredient | % | kg active ingredient | % | ||||||
| Arable crops | |||||||||
| Winter wheat | 336 | 404 | 328 | -19 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 2.7 | -14 | |
| Seed potatoes | 784 | 667 | 599 | -10 | 20.8 | 16.7 | 14.3 | -14 | |
| Consumption potatoes | 927 | 1 197 | 1 066 | -11 | 11.6 | 14.2 | 12.2 | -14 | |
| Industrial potatoes | 652 | 628 | 617 | -2 | 10.6 | 11.0 | 12.1 | 10 | |
| Sugar beet | 414 | 395 | 395 | 0 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 2 | |
| Green maize | 681 | 432 | 163 | -62 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | -60 | |
| Seed onions | 201 | 306 | 298 | -3 | 17.3 | 23.2 | 21.3 | -8 | |
| Horticultural crops | |||||||||
| Strawberries | 17 | 17 | 16 | -6 | 9.8 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 6 | |
| Leeks | 27 | 30 | 24 | -20 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 7.6 | -8 | |
| Brussels sprouts | 16 | 23 | 35 | 52 | 3.6 | 5.0 | 7.3 | 46 | |
| Apples | 471 | 372 | 232 | -38 | 30.8 | 29.0 | 18.1 | -38 | |
| not including sulphur and/or | 470 | 336 | 209 | -38 | 30.8 | 26.2 | 16.3 | -38 | |
| bacterium preparation. | |||||||||
| Pears | 159 | 134 | 104 | -22 | 26.9 | 25.1 | 17.3 | -31 | |
| Avenue and amenity trees | 8 | 8 | 6 | -21 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.1 | -26 | |
| Ornamental conifers | 12 | 11 | 9 | -17 | 8.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | -36 | |
| Tulips | 235 | 278 | 224 | -20 | 29.3 | 27.7 | 23.1 | -17 | |
| Lilies | 407 | 442 | 528 | 20 | 123.5 | 115.4 | 104.2 | -10 | |
| Tomatoes | 18 | 43 | 30 | -30 | 14.9 | 32.6 | 26.5 | -19 | |
| not including sulphur and/or | 9 | 11 | 9 | -17 | 7.0 | 8.2 | 7.9 | -4 | |
| bacterium preparation | |||||||||
| Peppers | 19 | 19 | 16 | -18 | 18.9 | 18.8 | 13.5 | -28 | |
| not including sulphur and/or | 7 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 7.0 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 10 | |
| bacterium preparation | |||||||||
| Roses | 78 | 58 | 57 | -2 | 84.6 | 62.7 | 61.4 | -2 | |
| not including sulphur and/or | 37 | 40 | 34 | -15 | 40.7 | 42.8 | 36.4 | -15 | |
| bacterium preparation | |||||||||
| Chrysanthemums | 38 | 30 | 32 | 5 | 49.8 | 40.2 | 41.4 | 3 | |
| Mushrooms 2) | 50 | 35 | 27 | -24 | 461.7 | 357.8 | 280.4 | -22 | |
| insects and mites | 2 | 1 | 1 | 60 | 19.1 | 6.3 | 10.4 | 66 | |
| fungal diseases | 2 | 2 | 1 | -26 | 22.3 | 18.4 | 14.2 | -23 | |
| other disinfection | 46 | 33 | 24 | -26 | 420.3 | 333.1 | 255.8 | -23 | |
| Source: CBS. | CBS/EDC/Oct02 | ||||||||
| 1) Excluding wet soil disinfectants (fumigants), glass and greenhouse cleaners and disinfectants. 2) On average approximately 7.5 crops per year. | |||||||||
Developments in use of pesticides by crop
There has been a fall in use for some crops and an increase for others. The trend for total use for certain crops deviates strongly from the trend for use per hectare. This is because of significant differences in the size of the agricultural area between 1995 and 1998 (in the case of, among other crops, lilies).
Developments in use of pesticides by type
Changes in the use of pesticides are caused, for example, by differences in the annual incidence of pests and diseases, which depends largely on the weather. There is a trend towards the use of pesticides, herbicides and insecticides which require low application rates of active ingredient per hectare (for example, for winter wheat and green maize). There is also an increase in the use of sulphur (for example in tomatoes) and in the application of alternative technologies (such as mechanical weed control).
The developments vary significantly per group of substances.
- Insecticides
In 2000 there were fewer lice and therefore less insecticide use. - Herbicides
The use of herbicides is falling due to the increased mechanisation of weed control for avenue and amenity trees. - Fungicides
The use of fungicides is greatly influenced by the weather conditions. The wet weather in 1998 meant that fungal plague was widespread. As a result, more fungicides than average were used that year for many crops. That was true of, for example, winter wheat, potatoes, seed onions, apples, pears, tulips and lilies. The increased use of fungicides compensated for the fall in the other groups, meaning that total use in the last few years has remained fairly stable. - Soil disinfectants
Legislation introduced in the early 1990s led to a sharp drop in the use of soil disinfectants. Supplementary farming measures after 1995 ensured a continuation of this drop.
Financial incentives
Government financial incentives can also influence use. For example, the premium paid for green maize if the farmer uses no more than 1 kg of active ingredient per hectare in the period 1 April to 15 June and applies mechanical weed control at least once between sowing and 16 July. The decline in use between 1998 and 2000 can be clearly seen.
References
- CBS. Statline. Chemische bestrijding in de landbouw. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
- CBS (2002). Landbouw gebruikt minder chemische bestrijdingsmiddelen. Statistics Netherlands , Voorburg/Heerlen.
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Sales of pesticides for agricultural use in the Netherlands, 1985-2002
- Volume developments in Agriculture and horticulture in the Netherlands, 1980-2001
- Use of pesticides by the Dutch government, 1986-2001
- Emissions of pesticides in the Netherlands, 1984-2000
- Run-off and drainage of pesticides in the Netherlands, 2000
- Pesticides in brackish and marine surface water in the Netherlands, 1997-2001
- Pesticides in the soil in the Netherlands
- Pesticides: impact on the goshawk (page is not available yet)
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More data about the use of plant protection products in agriculture can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).
