Nitrogen and phosphate production by all livestock and by agricultural area in the Netherlands, 2001

There are large regional variations in manure and mineral production. The highest levels are found in areas with a lot of intensive livestock farming: the eastern part of North Brabant and the western Veluwe.

Regional variations in manure production

The production of nutrients is highest in the areas where intensive livestock farming is concentrated: the eastern part of North Brabant and the western Veluwe. Most of the manure is also applied in these areas. Because the soil here mainly consists of very porous sand, relatively large amounts of nitrogen are leached to groundwater. Approximately 60% of drinking water in the Netherlands is extracted from precisely these regions.

Technical note

The illustration shows the production of nitrogen (as total N) and phosphates (as P₂O₅) in manure per hectare of cultivated land for each agricultural area designated by Statistics Netherlands.

This nitrogen production is the amount of nitrogen in the manure at the time of application. This means that gaseous nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia, that are released in stalls, pastures and during storage are not included in nitrogen production. Much of these gaseous losses go to the environment.

In the case of phosphate, there are no gaseous losses after excretion and before manure spreading or application.

References

CBS (2002). Statline. Productie van dierlijke mest. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

More information about manure production can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).