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Indicator Assessment
Agricultural nitrogen surpluses (the difference between all nutrient inputs and outputs on agricultural land) show a declining trend, thereby potentially reducing environmental pressures on soil, water and air. Many countries, however, still maintain a large surplus.
Nitrogen input on agricultural land in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries
Note: How to read the graph: between 1995 and 2004, total nitrogen input on agricultural land in Germany decreased from about 5 to about 4 million tonnes
Based on OECD, 2008.
Nitrogen balance per hectare of agricultural land
Note: How to read the graph: in 20 years, nitrogen balance per ha was reduced from 240 to 173 kg/ha in Belgium.
Based on OECD, 2008.
A nutrient balance describes the difference between all nutrient inputs and outputs on agricultural land. A positive balance or surplus reflects inputs that are in excess of crop and forage needs. It can result in diffuse pollution through the loss of nutrients to water bodies, decreasing water quality while promoting eutrophication. Surplus nitrogen can also be lost to air as ammonia and other greenhouse gases.
All European countries exhibit a nitrogen surplus. Overall however, these surpluses have declined since the mid-1980s, reducing the environmental pressures on soil, water and air. The adoption of nutrient management plans and environmental farm plans has had a key role in this reduction.
It is, however, important not only to consider rates of surplus decline but also their absolute values. Belgium and the Netherlands, for example, show significant decreases although nutrient surpluses in these two countries currently remain much higher than the average across all countries, indicating high productivity and pressure on biodiversity.
Conversely, some countries show an increase but still remain below the average.
In most countries, national nutrient balances typically mask considerable regional variation due to variation in the type and intensity of farming.
NOTES
Although gross nitrogen balance can show areas where ground and surface waters may be at risk from nitrogen leaching, it should not be interpreted as data on actual losses to the environment. In order to assess the environmental impact of excess nitrogen, more information is needed on farm nitrogen management, soil type, and climate conditions, all of which play a role in the fate of nitrogen in the environment. 'Gross nitrogen balance' is also an agri-environmental indicator and part of the compulsory indicators of the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF) for rural development. Work is ongoing on streamlining similar indicators used in different processes.
FURTHER INFORMATION
'Gross nitrogen balance' estimates the potential surplus of nitrogen on agricultural land. This is done by calculating the balance between nitrogen added to an agricultural system (nitrogen input can be taken as a proxy indicator for the general intensity of agricultural management) and nitrogen removed from the system per hectare of agricultural land. The indicator accounts for all inputs to and outputs from the farm, and therefore includes nitrogen input.
The units used in this indicator are:
kilogrammes per hectare
tonnes
High nitrogen inputs and losses generally coincide with high phosphorous, and pesticide inputs and losses. The nitrogen balance is related to nutrient leaching risks: high nitrogen inputs and imbalances normally lead to high pressure on biodiversity within and outside the farmed environment.
Agriculture is intensifying in many places, causing increasing pressure on biodiversity. Increasing nitrogen availability favours a few nitrophilous species and suppresses many other, rarer species. The 'nitrogen balance' includes nitrogen input (fertilising, nitrogen fixation and nitrogen deposition among other things) and nitrogen output (denitrification and the emission of ammonia among other things) and thus reflects a major part of the nitrogen cycle and the impact of farm management on the hydrosphere and atmosphere. Nitrogen input (fertilising and nitrogen fixation) more directly affects the level of biodiversity in fields and grasslands.
The sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems would minimise the negative effects from excess nitrogen through management of the nitrogen-balance.
2020 EU Biodiversity Targets: target 3
Calculation of the indicator per country: see the OECD/Eurostat gross nutrient balance handbook.
Total Nitrogen input:
Total nitrogen outputs from farm unit: total harvested crops and forage.
Subtracting the sum of the total nitrogen output from the total nitrogen input results in the gross nutrient balance for nitrogen.
N/A
No methodology references available.
No uncertainty has been specified
No uncertainty has been specified
MAIN DISADVANTAGES OF THE INDICATOR
ANALYSIS OF OPTIONS
There are various possible indicators for this process: nitrogen balance, phosphorous balance, pesticide inputs, crop and dairy yields, livestock density, diversity of crop rotation etc. The 'nitrogen balance' indicator was selected because it is relatively well documented, it relates well to the majority of farming systems and eutrophication is an important environmental problem adversely affecting biodiversity.
It is closely related to other nitrogen-related indicators:
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/agriculture-nitrogen-balance/agriculture-nitrogen-balance-assessment-published or scan the QR code.
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