KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
Neutral

The consumption of mineral fertilisers in Slovenia was reduced by 28% in the period 1992–2015. The consumption of plant nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O) per hectare of utilised agricultural area was also reduced from 135 kg/ha to 103 kg/ha (23%). In the period 1992–2015, 62 kg of N, 28 kg of P2O5, and 34 kg of K2O were used on average per hectare of utilised agricultural area. In the period 2002–2013, consumption of plant nutrients in Slovenia exceeded the average for EU Member States.


This indicator presents the consumption of mineral fertilisers in Slovenia in the period 1992–2015. Their total consumption and the consumption of major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) are presented. The consumption of mineral fertilisers per hectare of utilised agricultural area was calculated and a comparison made with some EU Member States in the period 2002–2015.

Mineral fertilisers are substances in various aggregate states that contain nutrients and are added to soil or plants in order to improve growth, increase yields and raise the quality of crops or soil fertility. They are obtained using industrial procedures (Mineral Fertilisers Act, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 29/06).


Charts

Figure KM02-1: The consumption of mineral fertilisers in Slovenia between 1992-2015
Show data
mineral fertilisers
1992 189922
1993 174055
1994 182191
1995 168780
1996 168029
1997 180599
1998 184729
1999 186370
2000 174180
2001 178166
2002 175724
2003 177589
2004 162680
2005 149504
2006 146593
2007 149587
2008 135011
2009 119135
2010 131855
2011 131304
2012 128364
2013 130347
2014 136054
2015 136114
Figure KM02-2: Phosphorus budget in Slovenian agriculture for the period 1992–2019
Show data
Input P [t P] Output P [t P] Balance surplus [t P] UAA [1000 ha] Balance surplus [kg P/ha]
1992 13345.36 4680.49 8664.87 555.87 15.59
1993 13593.50 4845.59 8747.91 552.76 15.83
1994 14288.91 8170.58 6118.32 537.59 11.38
1995 13664.33 7701.48 5962.85 524.97 11.36
1996 13237.03 7449.33 5787.70 513.47 11.27
1997 13511.73 8111.81 5399.93 494.27 10.93
1998 14130.97 8128.08 6002.89 490.92 12.23
1999 14527.74 7802.14 6725.60 498.59 13.49
2000 14335.63 6698.44 7637.19 508.96 15.01
2001 13523.57 6545.10 6978.48 509.62 13.69
2002 13550.77 8241.33 5309.44 505.46 10.50
2003 12831.81 5475.63 7356.18 509.71 14.43
2004 12085.37 8312.73 3772.64 490.52 7.69
2005 11644.79 8944.42 2700.37 508.76 5.31
2006 11399.63 7235.09 4164.54 490.32 8.49
2007 11623.93 7938.95 3684.97 498.47 7.39
2008 10960.84 8256.25 2704.59 492.42 5.49
2009 9075.62 8093.00 982.62 468.50 2.10
2010 9917.82 8503.20 1414.62 482.65 2.93
2011 9329.89 8050.13 1279.77 458.20 2.79
2012 9209.58 7183.67 2025.91 479.65 4.22
2013 9165.68 6327.95 2837.73 478.89 5.93
2014 9396.99 8760.70 636.30 482.22 1.32
2015 9649.88 8714.36 935.51 476.86 1.96
2016 9680.39 8915.47 764.92 477.67 1.60
2017 9510.73 7079.32 2431.41 481.42 5.05
2018 9568.86 8685.06 883.81 477.30 1.85
2019 9100.12 8785.42 314.70 478.30 0.66
Figure KM02-3: Value of agricultural production per capita in Slovenia in the period 2001–2017 (2010=100)
Note:

* Value of agricultural production in basic prices (EUR, constant prices: 2010=100, current exchange rate)

Show data
Slovenia [EUR/capita]
2001 606.75
2002 637.33
2003 559.73
2004 624.29
2005 603.37
2006 588.26
2007 593.93
2008 594.18
2009 512.61
2010 539.13
2011 595.15
2012 551.27
2013 546.03
2014 572.24
2015 589.24
2016 558.60
2017 526.80

Goals

  • Balanced consumption of mineral fertilisers, gradual increase of ecological production and prevention of pressures on soil both from point as well as non-point sources,
  • to fertilise plants in such a way that they make the best use of nutrients to prevent them being wasted into the groundwater and the atmosphere,
  • to reduce and prevent further pollution of waters by nitrates used in agricultural production.

 


The consumption of mineral fertilisers in Slovenia was reduced by 28% in the period 1992–2015. Reduced consumption has been noted particularly after 1999. Namely, more than 180,000 tonnes of mineral fertilisers were used that year and only 135,000 tonnes in 2008. The consumption of mineral fertilisers per hectare of utilised agricultural area in the quoted period was reduced from 342 kg/ha to 285 kg/ha, or by 16%. The consumption of plant nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O) was reduced as well – from 135 kg/ha to 103 kg/ha, or by 23%. In the period 1992–2015, an average of 62 kg of N, 28 kg of P2O5 and 34 kg of K2O per hectare of utilised agricultural land was used. The prevailing element among plant nutrients composed of mineral fertilisers is nitrogen (51%), followed by potassium (27%) and phosphorus (22%). This fact confirms that mineral fertilisers in Slovenia are used primarily for side dressing with nitrogen (KAN and urea), while fertilising with phosphorus and potassium is combined with the use of livestock manure in the pre-sowing treatment of soil.

The decrease in consumption of mineral fertilisers per hectare of utilised agricultural area is attributable to the Nitrates Directive requirements and the principles of good agricultural practice in manuring, to which farm holdings have been committed over the last few years, especially after Slovenia joined the EU in 2004. Both papers devote more attention to the use of livestock manure and the assessment of plant nutrients in livestock manure in planning fertilisation with mineral fertilisers. As farm holdings must now develop fertilising plans that include assessments of the use of plant nutrients from livestock manure, the consumption of mineral fertilisers has been decreasing accordingly.

The consumption of nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O) per hectare of utilised agricultural area in the period 2002–2013 in Slovenia (100 kg/ha) was above the EU-28 average (88 kg/ha). The consumption of nutrients in the stated period was the highest in Croatia (217 kg/ha), Belgium (186 kg/ha) and the Netherlands (169 kg/ha), while in Latvia (45 kg/ha), Greece (42 kg/ha) and Romania (30 kg/ha), it was the lowest.

 

 


Methodology

Goals and legal basis

Resoluciji o nacionalnem programu varstva okolja 2005-2012 (ReNPVO, Ur.l. RS, št. 2/06) in Uredbi o varstvu voda pred onesnaženjem z nitrati iz kmetijskih virov (Ur.L.RS, št. 113/09, 5/13 in 22/15).

Date of data source summarization

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