Nitrogen balance for soil and groundwater in the Netherlands, 1986-2002*
The supply of nitrogen to agricultural land fell by almost one third between 1986 and 2000. Approximately 90% of the total supply of nitrogen to the soil is to agricultural land, mainly in the form of animal manure and fertiliser.
| Supply | ||||||
| 1986 | 1990 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002* | ||
| million kg N | ||||||
| Total agricultural land | 1 090 | 985 | 822 | 781 | 763 | |
| Manure | 479 | 462 | 386 | 389 | 371 | |
| Fertiliser | 492 | 403 | 330 | 291 | 291 | |
| Run-off and leaching | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | |
| Atmospheric deposition | 84 | 82 | 67 | 63 | 63 | |
| Other | 26 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 27 | |
| Total other land | 94 | 96 | 98 | 98 | 98 | |
| Local deposits | ||||||
| of which | ||||||
| sewage sludge | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| dredging sludge | 7 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| other waste | 9 | 11 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
| Diffused supply | ||||||
| of which | ||||||
| atmospheric deposition | 56 | 57 | 50 | 49 | 49 | |
| other | 17 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 23 | |
| Source: CBS. | CBS/EDC/Sep03/0195 | |||||
| Withdrawal | |||||
| 1986 | 1990 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002* | |
| million kg N | |||||
| Total agricultural land | 1 090 | 985 | 822 | 781 | 763 |
| Withdrawal in crops (incl. grass) | 489 | 497 | 414 | 400 | 429 |
| Leaching and run-off1) | 86 | 86 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| Accumulation and denitrification | 515 | 402 | 338 | 311 | 264 |
| Total other land | 94 | 96 | 98 | 98 | 98 |
| Run-off and leaching | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Accumulation and denitrification | 90 | 92 | 94 | 94 | 94 |
| Source: CBS. | CBS/EDC/Sep03/0195 | ||||
| 1) Using new calculation method from 2000 onwards. In time, the years in the history will be recalculated using a comparable method. As a result, the trend shift shown at present will be eliminated. | |||||
Developments in supply of nitrogen
The supply of nitrogen to agricultural land fell by approximately 30% between 1986 and 2002. Approximately 90% of the total supply of nitrogen to the soil is to agricultural land, mainly in the form of animal manure and fertiliser.
Developments in withdrawal of nitrogen
Approximately 50% of the nitrogen applied on agricultural land is taken up by crops (including grass). The rest enters the environment through run-off and leaching to surface water (approximately 10% of the total), through denitrification to the air, and through accumulation in soil and groundwater.
