Use of the legal application potential for phosphate and nitrogen from manure, 2000

Development in the use of the legal application potential

On a nation-wide basis, 79% of the legal application potential for phosphate was used in 2000. For nitrogen, this figure was 45%. Despite the fact that the legal standards have been made more stringent, the use of the legal application potential and overfertilisation have fallen compared to 1999.

• See also Legal standards for the use of fertilisers in the Netherlands (MINAS)
• Time series for legal application potential and exploitation level (Statistics Netherlands, Statline)

Noord-Brabant had the highest use of phosphate per hectare of cultivated land (almost 10% above the maximum permitted amount).
Farmers sold about one-third of their phosphate production from their livestock to other holdings. Exports of phosphate increased by 30% in 2000 compared to the previous year.

Standards for the legal application potential

In 2000, the legal application potential for MINAS holdings (those obliged under the MINAS programme to keep mineral accounts) was 100 kg of phosphate (P₂O₅) and 315 kg of nitrogen (N) for arable crops (approximately 65 kg P₂O₅ and 165 kg N for crop withdrawal and 35 kg P₂O₅ and 150 KG N allowable loss) and 115 kg P₂O₅ and 575 nitrogen for grassland (approximately 80 kg P₂O₅ en 300 kg N voor crop withdrawal and 40 kg P₂O₅ and 275 kg N allowable loss).

• See Legal standards for the use of fertilisers in the Netherlands (MINAS)

References

• CBS (2002). Statline. Transport en gebruik van dierlijke mest. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Legal standards for the use of fertilisers in the Netherlands (MINAS)
• Dutch farms that exceed the levy-free surpluses, 1998-2001*
• Manure production by livestock in the Netherlands, 1980-2001
• Nitrogen and phosphate production by all livestock and by agricultural area in the Netherlands, 2001 (map)
• Manure use per municipality in the Netherlands, 2000
• Index environmental pressure, theme of Eutrophication

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More data about the use of the legal application potential for phosphate can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).