Phosphorus balance for soil and groundwater in the Netherlands, 1986-2002*

The supply of phosphorus to agricultural land fell by more than one third between 1986 and 2002. Approximately 85% of the total supply of phosphorus to the soil is to agricultural land, mainly in the form of manure and fertiliser.

Supply		1986	1990	2000	2001	2002*
		million kg P
Total agricultural land		157	137	108	103	99
Manure		113	95	74	74	70
Fertiliser		36	33	27	23	23
Run-off and leaching		5	6	4	3	3
Atmospheric deposition		2	2	2	2	2
Other		1	1	1	1	1
Total other land		18	17	18	17	17
Local deposits
of which	sewage sludge	2	3	1	1	1
	dredging sludge	6	5	3	2	2
	other waste	7	6	5	5	5
Diffused supply
of which	atmospheric deposition	1	1	1	1	1
	other	3	2	8	8	8
Source: CBS.		CBS/EDC/Sep03/0196

Withdrawal	1986	1990	2000	2001	2002*
	million kg P
Total agricultural land	157	137	108	103	99
Withdrawal in crops (incl. grass)	65	62	58	55	61
Leaching and run-off1)	5	5	4	4	4
Accumulation	87	70	46	44	34
Total other land	18	17	18	17	17
Run-off and leaching	1	1	1	1	1
Accumulation	18	16	17	16	16
Source: CBS.		CBS/EDC/Sep03/0196
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 phosphorus

The total supply of phosphorus to agricultural land decreased by over 35% between 1986 and 2002. This drop can be wholly attributed to the reduced supply of phosphorus in manure and fertiliser on agricultural land. Approximately 85% of the total supply of phosphorus to the soil is to agricultural land, mainly in the form of manure and fertilizer.

Developments in withdrawal of phosphorus

Of the total amount of phosphorus applied to agricultural land, approximately 35% accumulated in 2002 (this figure was approximately 50% in 1990 and approximately 55% in 1986).
Phosphorus not taken up by crops initially accumulates in the soil. However, soil has only a limited ability to accumulate (or stockpile) phosphorus. Eventually the soil becomes saturated with phosphorus and it runs off to ground and surface water. The total area of phosphate-saturated land is steadily increasing.

Technical note

New calculation method used 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. More information about the background to the calculation can be found on the Datawarehouse Emissieregistratie website.

References

• CBS (2003). Statline. Stikstof en fosfor in Nederland. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.
• CCDM (2003). Emissiemonitor. Jaarcijfers 2001 en ramingen 2002. Datawarehouse-Emissieregistratie. Coördinatiecommissie Doelgroepmonitoring, The Hague.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Environmental pressure in the Netherlands, Eutrophication theme: introduction and policy
• Eutrophying emissions in the Netherlands, 1980-2001 (page is not available yet)
• Eutrophying emissions to water, 1990-2001
• Nitrogen and phosphorus balances for fresh surface water in the Netherlands, 1986-2001
• Balance for phosphorus in agriculture in the Netherlands, 2000
• Nitrogen and phosphorus balances for cultivated land and grassland in the Netherlands, 1980-2002*
• Nitrogen balance for soil and groundwater in the Netherlands, 1986-2002*
• Guide to 'Impact of environmental pressure on nature' section , with a reference to four indicators about the impact of acidification and eutrophication on nature.
• Guide to 'Measures for agriculture and horticulture, and eutrophication' section

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

• More information about mineral surpluses can be found in Mineralen in de landbouw, 1999 - 2002* (CBS, 2003).
• Recent emission data and descriptions of the calculation methods used (meta-information) can be viewed in detail on the Data Warehouse of the 'Emissieregistratie' website.
• Emission data can also be found on Statline of Statistics Netherlands.