Archive:Phosphorus balance in agriculture
Data from September 2011, most recent data: Gross Nutrient Balance
Between 2005 and 2008, the Gross Phosphorus Balance for the EU27 remained relative stable with an estimated average of 2 kg Phosphorus (P) per ha. In the EU15 the Gross Phosphorus Balance reduced slightly from an estimated average of 5 kg P per ha in the period 2000-2004 to an estimated average of 3 kg P in the period 2005-2008. In the ten former Central and Eastern European (CEC) Countries (PL, SI, SK, EE, LT, LV, CZ, HU, RO and BG) the Gross Phosphorus Balance was much lower than in the EU-15, with an estimated average of 0 kg/ha over the period 2005-2008.
All the figures in this article are presented as averages over a period of 5 years. Meteorological conditions have a big impact on the annual estimated Gross Phosphorus Balances. The amount of nutrients removed with the harvest and grazing of crops and fodder, is depending on the nutrient content of crops and fodder and the yields of crops and fodder. The nutrient content of fodder and crops is estimated to be more or less constant in most countries. The amount of nutrients removed with the harvest and grazing of crops and fodder is therefore mainly depending on yields. Yields are depending on farmer practices (like pesticide and fertiliser use, irrigation etc) and on meteorological conditions. Metereological conditions vary significantly from year to year and these fluctuations can also be seen in the estimated nutrient output and surplus. In 2003 and 2007 for instance, large parts of Europe were hit by extreme weather causing significant drops in crop production, a peak in the balance can be noted for these years in some Member States. Variations in the nutrient surplus between years should therefore be interpreted with care. To limit the impact of metereological conditions on the trend, the trend can best be analysed looking at averages over a period of a few years.
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The Gross Phosphorus Balance is high in the Mediterranean islands MT and CY and Northwest-Europe (NO, NL, UK, DK) while the balance is negative for IT and GR and many of the former CEC countries. Figure 1 shows the average Gross Phosphorus Balance per hectare of agricultural land (the total of arable land, land under permanent crops and permanent grassland) for the periods 2000-2004 and 2005-2008. The Gross Phosphorus Balance per ha decreased in most countries in 2005-2008 compared to 2000-2004, exceptions were PL and NO. Data for CY and EE were not available for 2000-2004.
Many of the countries with a high average Phosphorus surplus between 2005 and 2008 also have a relative high P input per ha (for instance NL, MT), see Figure 2. A high input does however not necessarily lead to a high Phosphorus balance, as the balance is also determined by the output. The Phosphorus input per ha of BE in 2005-2008 (estimated at 35 kg P per ha) for instance is higher than that of NO (estimated at 26 kg P per ha), but due to a much higher P output per ha the P surplus of BE (estimated at 6 kg P per ha) is less than half of the P surplus of NO (estimated at 15 kg P per ha).
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[[Category:<Subtheme category name(s)>|Statistical article]] [[Category:<Statistical article>|Statistical article]]