Origin of eutrophying depositions in the Netherlands, 2003
Dutch agriculture contributes most to nitrogen depositions.
More than half of nitrogen depositions come from Dutch sources.
| Oxidised | Reduced | Total | |
| nitrogen | nitrogen | nitrogen | |
| (NOy) | (NHx) | (N) | |
| % | |||
| Total | 30 | 70 | 100 |
| Netherlands, agriculture | 0 | 44 | 44 |
| Netherlands, other | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| North Sea | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| International | 14 | 16 | 31 |
| Background 1) | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Source: RIVM/MNP, 2005 | MNP/MNC/March05 | ||
| 1) Natural and intercontinental background deposition |
Dutch agriculture accounts for most deposition
The Dutch agriculture sector makes the largest contribution - 44% - to total nitrogen deposition in the Netherlands. This deposition consists almost exclusively of ammonia. The total contribution made by all Dutch sources to total nitrogen deposition is 61%. This means that the agricultural sector is responsible for 72% of the total Dutch contribution to nitrogen deposition. Ammonia emissions account for the highest proportion - 70% - of all nitrogen depositions. Foreign sources account for approximately a third of all nitrogen depositions.
Policy
The objective for nitrogen deposition is 1,650 mol nitrogen per hectare on average for Dutch ecosystems in 2010 (VROM, 2002). If this is achieved, 20% of the surface area of the Dutch natural environment will be completely protected (VROM, 2001, 2004). The deposition objectives are calculated on the basis of the emission objectives in the NMP4. These are intermediate objectives on the way to a situation in which 95% of the nature in the Netherlands will be completely protected (VROM, 2002).
