KAZALCI OKOLJA

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In the period 1992–2021 nitrogen surplus in Slovenian agriculture decreased. Trend analysis for this period shows that gross nitrogen surplus decreased on average by 1.5 kg N/ha per year or by 54%, and the net surplus by 1.5 kg N/ha per year or by 87%. The lower surplus was mainly due to a 50% increase in nitrogen removal by crops and a 4% decrease in nitrogen input per hectare of utilized agricultural area. A lower excess of nitrogen indicates better nitrogen management in agriculture and consequently a reduction in emissions of nitrogen compounds into the environment. The nitrogen surplus in a particular year is significantly influenced by weather conditions. In dry years, the nitrogen budget is usually higher due to lower crop yields. In the period 2015–2019, Slovenia showed a slightly lower gross nitrogen budget (48 kg N/ha) than selected EU Member States (53 kg N/ha).


According to the OECD-Eurostat methodology (2013), the nitrogen (N) budget in agriculture represents the difference between the input of N on agricultural land and the output of N from agricultural land with crop yields. We distinguish between gross and net nitrogen budget.

Gross nitrogen surplus is the difference between total input and output of nitrogen. Gross nitrogen input is represented by the following sources: N excreted by farm animals, N in mineral fertilizers, biological fixation of N by legumes, deposition of atmospheric N, N from other organic fertilizers (composts, digestates, sewage sludges ...) and N from seeds and planting material. Output represents nitrogen uptake of harvested crops.

The net nitrogen surplus refers mainly to the available N for crop growth (net input). Net nitrogen surplus is calculated by subtracting N that is released into the atmosphere (from animal houses, manure stores, during grazing, during and as a result of fertilising with mineral, animal and other organic fertilisers, during the decomposition of crop residues in soil and as a result of cultivation of histosols) from the gross nitrogen budget. This is N that is released into the atmosphere through emissions of ammonia (NH3) nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The gross and net nitrogen surpluses were expressed in tonnes N at the national level and in kilograms N per hectare of utilized agricultural area. Data for the period 1992–2021 are presented. The indicator also presents the structure of input and output of N and comparison with selected EU countries in the period 2015–2019.


Charts

Figure KM22-1: Structure of nitrogen inpuut on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2021
Sources: 

AIS, 2023

Show data

Total N input[t N]

Livestock manure[t N]

Mineral fertilisers[t N]

Atmospheric deposition[t N]

Biological fixation[t N]

Seeds and seedlings[t N]

Other organic fertilisers[t N]

Livestock manure[%]

Mineral fertilisers[%]

Atmospheric deposition[%]

Biological fixation[%]

Seeds and seedlings[%]

Other organic fertilisers[%]

1992

91272.13

41745.78

38938

8338.07

1781.20

338.51

130.56

45.74

42.66

9.14

1.95

0.37

0.14

1993

82953.37

39052.39

33376

8291.40

1763.63

339.39

130.56

47.08

40.23

10.00

2.13

0.41

0.16

1994

82969.43

38855.61

33944

8063.79

1653.28

322.19

130.56

46.83

40.91

9.72

1.99

0.39

0.16

1995

82010.14

39665.54

32235

7874.48

1778.12

326.44

130.56

48.37

39.31

9.60

2.17

0.40

0.16

1996

79387.22

38317.80

31296

7702.10

1637.35

311.21

122.76

48.27

39.42

9.70

2.06

0.39

0.15

1997

81032.08

37570.77

33999

7414.07

1638.40

294.88

114.96

46.37

41.96

9.15

2.02

0.36

0.14

1998

82326.66

38209.25

34801

7363.77

1546.68

298.80

107.16

46.41

42.27

8.94

1.88

0.36

0.13

1999

82609.85

38941.21

34380

7478.87

1432.53

291.53

85.71

47.14

41.62

9.05

1.73

0.35

0.10

2000

84411.80

40836.41

34159

7634.40

1409.19

308.54

64.26

48.38

40.47

9.04

1.67

0.37

0.08

2001

84052.50

40018.54

34765

7644.36

1241.77

310.77

72.06

47.61

41.36

9.09

1.48

0.37

0.09

2002

84696.03

42030.20

33412

7581.93

1282.95

293.49

95.46

49.62

39.45

8.95

1.51

0.35

0.11

2003

82938.44

39085.23

34501

7645.64

1339.27

296.99

70.31

47.13

41.60

9.22

1.61

0.36

0.08

2004

76875.89

37520.55

30264

7357.80

1381.82

294.25

57.48

48.81

39.37

9.57

1.80

0.38

0.07

2005

76746.89

37899.60

29169

7631.39

1700.85

290.73

55.34

49.38

38.01

9.94

2.22

0.38

0.07

2006

77931.96

38063.22

30383

7354.77

1755.00

306.52

69.46

48.84

38.99

9.44

2.25

0.39

0.09

2007

78844.25

39630.57

29613

7476.99

1733.83

304.92

84.93

50.26

37.56

9.48

2.20

0.39

0.11

2008

72617.88

37867.08

25039

7386.36

1918.61

306.39

100.45

52.15

34.48

10.17

2.64

0.42

0.14

2009

75679.61

37908.59

28202

7027.44

2123.09

302.20

116.29

50.09

37.26

9.29

2.81

0.40

0.15

2010

74290.24

37044.30

27486

7239.80

2085.22

285.47

149.45

49.86

37.00

9.75

2.81

0.38

0.20

2011

72284.49

35804.01

27134

6872.93

2056.13

269.85

147.58

49.53

37.54

9.51

2.84

0.37

0.20

2012

71462.10

35464.15

26300

7194.80

2052.56

287.20

163.41

49.63

36.80

10.07

2.87

0.40

0.23

2013

72081.92

35037.31

27263

7183.32

2141.89

277.16

179.23

48.61

37.82

9.97

2.97

0.38

0.25

2014

74187.45

35719.93

28612

7233.29

2127.83

289.25

205.15

48.15

38.57

9.75

2.87

0.39

0.28

2015

75549.76

36729.31

28319

7152.93

2846.41

290.72

211.38

48.62

37.48

9.47

3.77

0.38

0.28

2016

75425.40

37223.43

27097

7165.07

3397.60

300.21

242.09

49.35

35.93

9.50

4.50

0.40

0.32

2017

74939.03

36782.36

27084

7221.23

3378.67

295.21

177.57

49.08

36.14

9.64

4.51

0.39

0.24

2018

74662.25

36499.48

27293

7159.44

3135.19

287.43

287.71

48.89

36.56

9.59

4.20

0.38

0.39

2019

74957.21

36354.00

28048

7197.33

2848.10

280.00

229.78

48.50

37.42

9.60

3.80

0.37

0.31

2020

74273.87

36079.67

27692

7260.95

2684.94

287.98

268.33

48.58

37.28

9.78

3.61

0.39

0.36

2021

75850.22

36181.44

29143

7192.29

2745.85

285.52

302.12

47.70

38.42

9.48

3.62

0.38

0.40

Figure KM22-2: Structure of nitrogen output on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2021
Sources: 

AIS, 2023

Show data

Total N output[t N]

Temporary and permanent pasture nett production[t N]

Cereals[t N]

Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land[t N]

Root crops[t N]

Fruits[t N]

Industrial crops[t N]

Vegetables[t N]

Dried Pulses[t N]

Temporary and permanent pasture nett production[%]

Cereals[%]

Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land[%]

Root crops[%]

Fruits[%]

Industrial crops[%]

Vegetables[%]

Dried Pulses[%]

1992

28752.00

17811.27

6028.00

2760.09

1060.33

534.73

293.18

242.55

21.86

61.95

20.97

9.60

3.69

1.86

1.02

0.84

0.08

1993

29376.14

16712.21

6762.38

3565.82

1204.01

559.41

277.76

269.78

24.77

56.89

23.02

12.14

4.10

1.90

0.95

0.92

0.08

1994

49789.44

32460.04

8416.82

5815.28

1754.89

621.46

404.81

253.80

62.35

65.19

16.90

11.68

3.52

1.25

0.81

0.51

0.13

1995

46921.32

29760.91

8170.15

6051.23

1834.91

547.24

212.72

273.94

70.23

63.43

17.41

12.90

3.91

1.17

0.45

0.58

0.15

1996

45376.16

28330.24

7762.42

6223.37

1840.71

632.42

250.88

283.87

52.25

62.43

17.11

13.72

4.06

1.39

0.55

0.63

0.12

1997

49428.23

31401.79

8578.90

6673.26

1682.98

575.47

194.19

274.81

46.83

63.53

17.36

13.50

3.40

1.16

0.39

0.56

0.09

1998

49491.84

30783.48

8919.45

6709.22

1922.48

640.83

212.69

261.39

42.30

62.20

18.02

13.56

3.88

1.29

0.43

0.53

0.09

1999

47511.12

30940.35

7557.26

5960.35

2007.07

543.40

184.91

288.39

29.40

65.12

15.91

12.55

4.22

1.14

0.39

0.61

0.06

2000

40831.47

25411.72

7968.03

4673.57

1640.73

716.01

136.72

258.70

25.98

62.24

19.51

11.45

4.02

1.75

0.33

0.63

0.06

2001

40152.38

26073.30

8102.99

3928.52

1101.47

521.24

186.09

211.46

27.30

64.94

20.18

9.78

2.74

1.30

0.46

0.53

0.07

2002

50404.47

32957.61

9754.26

5018.98

1286.05

714.70

390.61

234.05

48.21

65.39

19.35

9.96

2.55

1.42

0.77

0.46

0.10

2003

33416.41

20670.42

6432.20

4189.68

973.80

571.51

352.69

195.82

30.28

61.86

19.25

12.54

2.91

1.71

1.06

0.59

0.09

2004

50951.79

33251.55

9267.40

5722.63

1223.39

777.89

369.94

264.69

74.29

65.26

18.19

11.23

2.40

1.53

0.73

0.52

0.15

2005

54875.43

35890.04

9153.81

7038.79

1256.23

648.93

404.06

281.64

201.95

65.40

16.68

12.83

2.29

1.18

0.74

0.51

0.37

2006

44545.71

28877.24

7933.84

5004.77

1059.66

628.12

422.70

257.53

361.85

64.83

17.81

11.24

2.38

1.41

0.95

0.58

0.81

2007

49106.58

32889.33

8501.95

5440.37

491.76

662.40

697.60

213.28

209.90

66.98

17.31

11.08

1.00

1.35

1.42

0.43

0.43

2008

51120.84

34194.84

9335.78

5702.98

380.35

582.79

517.19

258.25

148.66

66.89

18.26

11.16

0.74

1.14

1.01

0.51

0.29

2009

50252.71

33822.07

8542.06

6006.73

401.02

598.05

528.13

277.41

77.25

67.30

17.00

11.95

0.80

1.19

1.05

0.55

0.15

2010

52784.93

35652.00

9161.24

5929.51

366.59

628.31

776.45

196.73

74.10

67.54

17.36

11.23

0.69

1.19

1.47

0.37

0.14

2011

49663.60

31718.72

9726.92

6096.05

344.98

639.95

750.44

249.88

136.65

63.87

19.59

12.27

0.69

1.29

1.51

0.50

0.28

2012

44216.07

27622.23

9440.84

5378.97

290.22

460.34

742.83

219.16

61.47

62.47

21.35

12.17

0.66

1.04

1.68

0.50

0.14

2013

39155.52

25371.32

7449.09

4634.03

235.08

561.54

642.60

224.71

37.15

64.80

19.02

11.83

0.60

1.43

1.64

0.57

0.09

2014

53897.79

34292.96

10456.78

7037.70

339.59

538.10

891.67

278.67

62.33

63.63

19.40

13.06

0.63

1.00

1.65

0.52

0.12

2015

54144.92

34536.75

10039.80

7578.39

319.53

655.67

638.67

305.15

70.96

63.79

18.54

14.00

0.59

1.21

1.18

0.56

0.13

2016

55437.10

34941.88

10275.84

8025.98

300.30

462.25

991.71

330.04

109.11

63.03

18.54

14.48

0.54

0.83

1.79

0.60

0.20

2017

43897.50

26502.39

8871.90

6573.33

278.18

344.97

931.31

295.70

99.71

60.37

20.21

14.97

0.63

0.79

2.12

0.67

0.23

2018

54011.68

34331.22

9483.94

7932.26

276.93

775.88

799.57

313.99

97.90

63.56

17.56

14.69

0.51

1.44

1.48

0.58

0.18

2019

54342.28

34525.00

10259.24

7589.81

265.36

489.93

749.65

364.32

98.98

63.53

18.88

13.97

0.49

0.90

1.38

0.67

0.18

2020

58947.35

36817.84

11954.56

7994.13

344.54

545.68

814.75

407.45

68.38

62.46

20.28

13.56

0.58

0.93

1.38

0.69

0.12

2021

52615.87

32918.69

11216.98

6781.20

247.46

312.70

731.19

347.55

60.09

62.56

21.32

12.89

0.47

0.59

1.39

0.66

0.11

Figure KM22-3: Nitrogen budget in Slovenian agriculture for the period 1992–2021
Sources: 

AIS, 2023

Show data

Gross budget[t N]

Emissions[t N]

Nett budget[t N]

UAA[1000 ha]

Gross budget[kg N/ha]

Emissions[kg N/ha]

Nett budget[kg N/ha]

1992

62520.13

19844.09

42676.03

555.87

112.47

35.70

76.77

1993

53577.23

18359.93

35217.30

552.76

96.93

33.22

63.71

1994

33179.98

18295.13

14884.85

537.59

61.72

34.03

27.69

1995

35088.83

18336.07

16752.75

524.97

66.84

34.93

31.91

1996

34011.06

17542.35

16468.71

513.47

66.24

34.16

32.07

1997

31603.85

17450.07

14153.78

494.27

63.94

35.30

28.64

1998

32834.83

17685.97

15148.86

490.92

66.88

36.03

30.86

1999

35098.72

17657.65

17441.07

498.59

70.40

35.42

34.98

2000

43580.34

18316.92

25263.41

508.96

85.63

35.99

49.64

2001

43900.12

18060.14

25839.98

509.62

86.14

35.44

50.70

2002

34291.56

18865.52

15426.04

505.46

67.84

37.32

30.52

2003

49522.03

17708.21

31813.82

509.71

97.16

34.74

62.42

2004

25924.11

16715.71

9208.39

490.52

52.85

34.08

18.77

2005

21871.47

16838.98

5032.49

508.76

42.99

33.10

9.89

2006

33386.25

16956.92

16429.33

490.32

68.09

34.58

33.51

2007

29737.66

17436.80

12300.86

498.47

59.66

34.98

24.68

2008

21497.04

16340.85

5156.19

492.42

43.66

33.18

10.47

2009

25426.90

16809.27

8617.64

468.50

54.27

35.88

18.39

2010

21505.31

16282.99

5222.32

482.65

44.56

33.74

10.82

2011

22620.89

15669.09

6951.81

458.20

49.37

34.20

15.17

2012

27246.03

15615.34

11630.69

479.65

56.80

32.56

24.25

2013

32926.40

15426.00

17500.40

478.89

68.76

32.21

36.54

2014

20289.66

15688.95

4600.71

482.22

42.08

32.53

9.54

2015

21404.84

15962.52

5442.32

476.86

44.89

33.47

11.41

2016

19988.29

16146.81

3841.48

477.67

41.85

33.80

8.04

2017

31041.53

15897.85

15143.68

481.42

64.48

33.02

31.46

2018

20650.56

15945.48

4705.08

477.30

43.27

33.41

9.86

2019

20614.93

15862.31

4752.63

479.82

42.96

33.06

9.90

2020

15326.52

15838.74

-512.22

484.06

31.66

32.72

-1.06

2021

23234.35

15835.75

7398.60

479.49

48.46

33.03

15.43

Figure KM22-4: Utilization efficiency of added nitrogen on agricultural land (% of input)
Sources: 

AIS, 2023

Show data

Input[kg N/ha]

Output[kg N/ha]

Efficiency of N[%]

1992

164.20

51.72

31.50

1993

150.07

53.14

35.41

1994

154.34

92.62

60.01

1995

156.22

89.38

57.21

1996

154.61

88.37

57.16

1997

163.94

100.00

61.00

1998

167.70

100.81

60.12

1999

165.69

95.29

57.51

2000

165.85

80.23

48.37

2001

164.93

78.79

47.77

2002

167.56

99.72

59.51

2003

162.72

65.56

40.29

2004

156.72

103.87

66.28

2005

150.85

107.86

71.50

2006

158.94

90.85

57.16

2007

158.17

98.52

62.28

2008

147.47

103.81

70.40

2009

161.54

107.26

66.40

2010

153.92

109.36

71.05

2011

157.76

108.39

68.71

2012

148.99

92.18

61.87

2013

150.52

81.76

54.32

2014

153.85

111.77

72.65

2015

158.43

113.54

71.67

2016

157.90

116.06

73.50

2017

155.66

91.18

58.58

2018

156.43

113.16

72.34

2019

156.22

113.26

72.50

2020

153.44

121.78

79.36

2021

158.19

109.73

69.37

Figure KM22-5: Gross nitrogen budget in selected EU Member States in the period 2015–2019
Sources: 

AIS, 2023

Show data

2015[kg N/ha]

2016[kg N/ha]

2017[kg N/ha]

2018[kg N/ha]

2019[kg N/ha]

2015-2019[kg N/ha]

Romania

8.60

-1.40

-12.60

-27.40

-24.90

-11.54

Latvia

28

25.40

22.20

26.40

12.40

22.88

Lithuania

25

0

0

43.50

40.80

36.43

Sweden

31.70

36.70

35.30

60.60

26.10

38.08

France

37.30

47.50

33.70

40.80

38

39.46

Austria

44.60

29

44.40

45.90

34.10

39.60

Slovakia

38.40

16.40

27.10

62.60

63.30

41.56

Portugal

44.30

46.70

44.90

45.50

45.20

45.32

Slovenia

44.90

41.80

64.60

43.40

43.20

47.58

Poland

47.80

44.10

48.40

61.80

47.40

49.90

Finland

49.50

47.40

51.50

58

43.70

50.02

Bulgaria

28

71.10

65.80

61.80

28.80

51.10

Average

53.26

Croatia

59.70

35.40

65.10

57.60

53.40

54.24

Germany

81.80

69.05

61.51

77.90

53.40

68.73

Czechia

98.30

92.30

102.40

94.70

75.60

92.66

Netherlands

192.40

194.50

182

196

165.80

186.14


Goals

  • Reducing the negative impacts of agriculture on water, soil and air
  • Balanced consumption of nitrogen from mineral fertilisers and livestock manures, gradual increase of the extent of organic farming and prevention of soil loading from point and dispersed sources;
  • To fertilise plants in a way that makes the best use of nutrients without those nutrients being emitted into groundwater and the atmosphere;
  • To reduce and prevent further pollution of waters by nitrates from agricultural production.

The main sources of nitrogen input in agriculture are livestock manures (48%) and mineral fertilizers (39%). Atmospheric deposition contributes 10% of nitrogen input, biological fixation by legumes 3%, seeds and seedlings 0.4% and other organic fertilizers 0.2%. Between 1992 and 2021, total nitrogen input decreased by 15%. The main reason is a 26% reduction in nitrogen consumption from mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen input from livestock manure decreased by 11%. Due to the reduced areas of utilized agricultural area, the input of atmospheric nitrogen decreased by 12% and the input by seeds and seedlings by 12%. Due to the increased extent of legume production, biological nitrogen fixation increased by 134%. Nitrogen input per hectare of utilized agricultural area decreased by 4%, mainly due to a 16% decrease in nitrogen input from mineral fertilizers per hectare of utilized agricultural area.

In the period 1992–2021, the annual nitrogen output by crops varied from 52 to 122 kg per ha. The variation was mainly due to weather conditions, as nitrogen output was notably lower in dry years. Nitrogen output per ha of utilized agricultural area increased by 50% during this period. The main source of nitrogen output was permanent grassland (64%), followed by cereals (19%) and forage crops (12%). Other crops (roots, tubers, fruits, vegetables, legumes and industrial plants) together contributed 5% of total nitrogen output.

In the period 1992-2021 the gross nitrogen surplus varied between 32 and 112 kg per ha. The highest surpluses (more than 80 kg N/ha) were recorded in the dry years 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001 and 2003, when outputs with crop yields were reduced. The trend analysis clearly revealed that gross nitrogen surplus in the period 1992–2021 was decreasing by 1.5 kg per year or by 54% over the entire period. Net nitrogen surplus was decreasing by 1.5 kg per year or by 87%. The lower nitrogen surplus was mainly due to a 50% increase in nitrogen uptake by crops and a 4% decrease in nitrogen input per hectare of utilized agricultural area. Lower nitrogen budgets indicate better nitrogen management and, consequently, lower emissions of nitrogen compounds into the environment. While 54% of total nitrogen input was taken from agricultural land by crops in the period 1992–2006, the percentage increased to 68% in the period 2007–2021.

In the period 2015–2019, Slovenia showed a slightly lower gross nitrogen budget (48 kg N/ha) than selected EU Member States (53 kg N/ha).


Other sources and literature

EMEP/EEA. 2019. EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2019. Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories, EEA Report No 13/2019, European Environment Agency.

European Commission, EUROSTAT 2013. Methodology and Handbook EUROSTAT/OECD. Nutrient Budgets EU 27, Norway, Switzerland.

IPCC 2006. IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Volume 4, Agriculture, forestry and other land use. Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (ur.), IGES, Japan.