Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balance in agricultural land
1. Contact
Responsible agency
Unit
Contact person
Position
Email (agency)
Phone
2. Statistical presentation
Data description
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balance is an indicator that can be used to assess the impact of agricultural activities on the environment, as well as to design and implement appropriate agri-environmental policies, identify factors that contribute to surplus or deficit of nutrients N and P in agricultural land, as well as illustrates the trends in the circulation of gross nutrients over a certain period of time.
The tables show the calculations made by the CSB on Gross nutrient balances - nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balance in agricultural land in general, as well as per hectare of agricultural land.
Calculations have been performed using standardized European Statistical System (ESS) methods in compliance with the ESS agreement on nutrient budgets and Eurostat/OECD Handbook within the framework of the grant project “Gross Nutrient Balances (GNB) calculation in accordance with the ESS Agreement on nutrient budgets adapted for Latvian situation”.
Statistical concepts and definitions
Statistical unit
N/A
Statistical population
N/A
3. Institutional mandate
Legal acts and other agreements
- ESS (European Statistical System) Agreement of 16 November 2017 on gross nutrient budgets.
- Grant project “Gross Nutrient Balances (GNB) calculation in accordance with the ESS Agreement on nutrient budgets adapted for Latvian situation”.
4. Accessibility and clarity
On-line database
5. Comparability
Comparability - geographical
The Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) publishes information on the EU-27 and country by country on its website in the section: Agriculture / Agriculture and environment.
Length of comparable time series
Comparable data are available for the period since 2000.
6. Coherence
Coherence- cross domain
N/A
7. Statistical processing (data source etc.)
Source data
Data are obtained by calculating the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in agricultural products, using statistics on the area under crops and total yields, the number of livestock, the amount of fertilizers used (nitrogen fertilizers and other organic fertilizers other than manure), as well as assessing the amount of plant residues removed from the field, the biological fixation of nitrogen and the deposition from the atmosphere.
The calculation uses coefficients that characterize the nitrogen and phosphorus content in these agricultural products (basic data). The coefficients were obtained on the basis of the performed scientific research and measurements within the framework of the Grant project “Gross Nutrient Balances (GNB) calculation in accordance with the ESS Agreement on nutrient budgets adapted for Latvian situation”.
Data collection
N/A
Data compilation
The total nitrogen and total phosphorus balance is calculated as the arithmetic difference between the input and output of N and P to agricultural land in a given reference period, the calendar year. The input consists of the total amount of nutrients - nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) - in tons, which is introduced into the soil during the reporting period with mineral fertilizers, manure, other organic fertilizers, seeds and planting material, as well as is biologically fixed or deposited from the atmosphere. The total output consists of the amount of nutrients N or P in tonnes that are removed from the soil during the reference period by the harvested crop and fodder crops, including post-harvested residues removed from the field.
The balance can be expressed both for the total area of agricultural land and for a specific unit of area, such as a hectare.