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Nitrogen and phosphate in manure and fertiliser in the Netherlands, 1980-2001

Various statutory arrangements have resulted in a fall in the amount of nitrogen and phosphate in manure. The trend for nitrogen and phosphate loss from chemical fertilisers is also downward.

 19801986199019951998199920002001
         
Totalmillion kg      
Nitrogen as total N 1)9271 042927930873828754714
Phosphate as P2O5314340294271264256245237
         
Nitrogen in manure 1) (as total N)    
All livestock441542527524470445415416
of which cattle 2)311383354346299280261269
 fatting calves4558891010
 pigs8210210410798948581
 poultry3745474546454240
 other 3)67181818171716
          
Phosphate in manure (as P2O5)     
All livestock230259220209193191183185
of which cattle 2)12013911111096979196
 fatting calves34345555
 pigs7378696054504846
 poultry3237332932333232
 other 3)22566776
          
Fertiliser 4)        
Nitrogen as total N486500400406403383339298
Phosphate as P2O58481746271656252
 
Source: CBS and LEI.CBS/EDC/Sep03/0106
1) Nitrogen production is the amount of nitrogen at the time of application of the manure.
2) Cattle excluding fatting calves; manure production during the entire year.
3) Sheep, goats, rabbits and animals kept for their fur.
4) Sales of fertiliser between 1 July of the year stated and 1 July of the previous year.

Levels of nitrogen and phosphate down in manure after 1986


After a considerable increase in the seventies and eighties, the production of nitrogen and phosphate peaked in 1986. The Super Levy Decree (1984), the Manure Act (1987) and the lowering of phosphate levels in concentrated feeds have resulted in a decrease in manure and mineral production. The implementation of the mineral accounting system (MINAS) has accelerated the decrease in nitrogen production.

Nitrogen and phosphate loss from chemical fertilisers decreasing


Nitrogen loss from chemical fertilisers has also fallen since 1986. The largest decreases took place between 1986 and 1990 and between 1998 and 2000. The amount of phosphate from chemical fertilisers has been in decline since 1970.

Technical note


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. In the figures shown, nitrogen production has been recalculated for all years to include all gaseous nitrogen losses, in line with Oenema (2000).

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

References


  • CBS/LEI (2001). Land- en tuinbouwcijfers 2001. Statistics Netherlands/Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Voorburg/Heerlen/The Hague.
  • CBS (2003). Statline. Productie van dierlijke mest. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
  • Oenema, O., G.L. Velthof, et al. (2000). Forfaitaire waarden voor gasvormige stikstofverliezen uit stallen en mestopslagen. Alterra (report 107, amended edition, ISSN 1566-7197), Wageningen.

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Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium


  • More information about nitrogen and phosphate in manure can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands) and at the LEI (Agricultural Economics Research Institute).
This page was last changed on November 18, 2005  (version 01).