KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
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In the period 1992–2023 nitrogen surplus in Slovenian agriculture decreased. Trend analysis for this period shows that gross nitrogen surplus decreased on average by 1.4 kg N/ha per year or by 54%, and the net surplus by 1.2 kg N/ha per year or by 85%. The lower surplus was mainly due to a 43% increase in nitrogen removal by crops and a 6% 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. A realistic comparison of the gross nitrogen surplus with other EU Member States is not possible. Data is only available for 15 countries, with no data available for the countries that had the largest surpluses in the past.


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 1992–2023 are presented. The indicator also presents the structure of input and output of N and comparison with selected EU countries in the period 2010–2021.

 


Charts

Figure KM22-1: Structure of nitrogen input on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992-2023
Sources:

AIS, 2025

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 90265.31 40738.97 38938 8338.07 1781.20 338.51 130.56 45.13 43.14 9.24 1.97 0.38 0.14
1993 82002.02 38101.04 33376 8291.40 1763.63 339.39 130.56 46.46 40.70 10.11 2.15 0.41 0.16
1994 81979.63 37865.80 33944 8063.79 1653.28 322.19 130.56 46.19 41.41 9.84 2.02 0.39 0.16
1995 80972.62 38628.03 32235 7874.48 1778.12 326.44 130.56 47.71 39.81 9.72 2.20 0.40 0.16
1996 78409.10 37339.67 31296 7702.10 1637.35 311.21 122.76 47.62 39.91 9.82 2.09 0.40 0.16
1997 80065.02 36603.72 33999 7414.07 1638.40 294.88 114.96 45.72 42.46 9.26 2.05 0.37 0.14
1998 81339.75 37222.34 34801 7363.77 1546.68 298.80 107.16 45.76 42.78 9.05 1.90 0.37 0.13
1999 81567.15 37898.52 34380 7478.87 1432.53 291.53 85.71 46.46 42.15 9.17 1.76 0.36 0.11
2000 83347.13 39771.73 34159 7634.40 1409.19 308.54 64.26 47.72 40.98 9.16 1.69 0.37 0.08
2001 82981.94 38947.98 34765 7644.36 1241.77 310.77 72.06 46.94 41.89 9.21 1.50 0.37 0.09
2002 83504.98 40839.16 33412 7581.93 1282.95 293.49 95.46 48.91 40.01 9.08 1.54 0.35 0.11
2003 81854.75 38001.54 34501 7645.64 1339.27 296.99 70.31 46.43 42.15 9.34 1.64 0.36 0.09
2004 76076.64 36721.29 30264 7357.80 1381.82 294.25 57.48 48.27 39.78 9.67 1.82 0.39 0.08
2005 75577.02 36729.72 29169 7631.39 1700.85 290.73 55.34 48.60 38.60 10.10 2.25 0.38 0.07
2006 76977.09 37108.35 30383 7354.77 1755.00 306.52 69.46 48.21 39.47 9.55 2.28 0.40 0.09
2007 77596.81 38383.14 29613 7476.99 1733.83 304.92 84.93 49.46 38.16 9.64 2.23 0.39 0.11
2008 71442.21 36691.40 25039 7386.36 1918.61 306.39 100.45 51.36 35.05 10.34 2.69 0.43 0.14
2009 74312.00 36540.98 28202 7027.44 2123.09 302.20 116.29 49.17 37.95 9.46 2.86 0.41 0.16
2010 72945.33 35699.38 27486 7239.80 2085.22 285.47 149.45 48.94 37.68 9.92 2.86 0.39 0.20
2011 70916.79 34436.30 27134 6872.93 2056.13 269.85 147.58 48.56 38.26 9.69 2.90 0.38 0.21
2012 70175.94 34177.99 26300 7194.80 2052.56 287.20 163.41 48.70 37.48 10.25 2.92 0.41 0.23
2013 70833.12 33788.51 27263 7183.32 2141.89 277.16 179.23 47.70 38.49 10.14 3.02 0.39 0.25
2014 72761.58 34294.06 28612 7233.29 2127.83 289.25 205.15 47.13 39.32 9.94 2.92 0.40 0.28
2015 74026.19 35205.75 28319 7152.93 2846.41 290.72 211.38 47.56 38.26 9.66 3.85 0.39 0.29
2016 73967.05 35765.08 27097 7165.07 3397.60 300.21 242.09 48.35 36.63 9.69 4.59 0.41 0.33
2017 73449.27 35292.60 27084 7221.23 3378.67 295.21 177.57 48.05 36.87 9.83 4.60 0.40 0.24
2018 73361.12 35198.35 27293 7159.44 3135.19 287.43 287.71 47.98 37.20 9.76 4.27 0.39 0.39
2019 73698.33 35095.12 28048 7197.33 2848.10 280.00 229.78 47.62 38.06 9.77 3.86 0.38 0.31
2020 73151.86 34957.66 27692 7260.95 2684.94 287.98 268.33 47.79 37.86 9.93 3.67 0.39 0.37
2021 74746.18 35077.40 29143 7192.29 2745.85 285.52 302.12 46.93 38.99 9.62 3.67 0.38 0.40
2022 72085.30 33502.62 27831 7191.48 2708.27 295.85 556.08 46.48 38.61 9.98 3.76 0.41 0.77
2023 69083.95 33136.31 24920 7210.76 2749.29 305.19 762.40 47.97 36.07 10.44 3.98 0.44 1.10
Figure KM22-2: Structure of nitrogen output on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992-2023
Sources:

AIS, 2025

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
2022 39132.10 23080.44 9376.55 4978.93 210.49 437.86 738.97 260.80 48.05 58.98 23.96 12.72 0.54 1.12 1.89 0.67 0.12
2023 52962.14 34349.56 10621.51 6314.04 244.66 326.54 845.69 216.67 43.47 64.86 20.05 11.92 0.46 0.62 1.60 0.41 0.08
Figure KM22-3: Nitrogen budget in Slovenian agriculture for the period 1992-2023
Sources:

AIS, 2025

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 61513.31 19526.87 41986.44 555.87 110.66 35.13 75.53
1993 52625.88 18047.88 34577.99 552.76 95.21 32.65 62.56
1994 32190.18 17949.94 14240.25 537.59 59.88 33.39 26.49
1995 34051.31 17956.14 16095.16 524.97 64.86 34.20 30.66
1996 33032.94 17155.22 15877.72 513.47 64.33 33.41 30.92
1997 30636.79 17061.11 13575.68 494.27 61.98 34.52 27.47
1998 31847.91 17273.07 14574.84 490.92 64.87 35.19 29.69
1999 34056.03 17207.12 16848.91 498.59 68.30 34.51 33.79
2000 42515.66 17835.76 24679.91 508.96 83.53 35.04 48.49
2001 42829.56 17551.81 25277.75 509.62 84.04 34.44 49.60
2002 33100.52 18285.09 14815.43 505.46 65.49 36.18 29.31
2003 48438.34 17149.89 31288.45 509.71 95.03 33.65 61.38
2004 25124.85 16265.00 8859.86 490.52 51.22 33.16 18.06
2005 20701.59 16234.99 4466.59 508.76 40.69 31.91 8.78
2006 32431.37 16411.62 16019.75 490.32 66.14 33.47 32.67
2007 28490.23 16738.88 11751.35 498.47 57.16 33.58 23.58
2008 20321.36 15655.64 4665.72 492.42 41.27 31.79 9.48
2009 24059.29 16025.63 8033.67 468.50 51.35 34.21 17.15
2010 20160.40 15487.93 4672.47 482.65 41.77 32.09 9.68
2011 21253.19 14868.59 6384.60 458.20 46.38 32.45 13.93
2012 25959.87 14845.92 11113.95 479.65 54.12 30.95 23.17
2013 31677.60 14671.49 17006.11 478.89 66.15 30.64 35.51
2014 18863.79 14845.03 4018.76 482.22 39.12 30.78 8.33
2015 19881.28 14930.79 4950.48 476.86 41.69 31.31 10.38
2016 18529.94 15099.75 3430.19 477.67 38.79 31.61 7.18
2017 29551.77 14819.92 14731.85 481.42 61.39 30.78 30.60
2018 19349.43 14917.40 4432.03 477.30 40.54 31.25 9.29
2019 19356.06 14827.12 4528.94 479.82 40.34 30.90 9.44
2020 14204.51 14841.83 -637.33 484.06 29.34 30.66 -1.32
2021 22130.31 14842.00 7288.31 479.49 46.15 30.95 15.20
2022 32953.20 14123.69 18829.51 479.43 68.73 29.46 39.27
2023 16121.81 13775.94 2345.87 480.72 33.54 28.66 4.88
Figure KM22-4: Utilization efficiency of added nitrogen on agricultural land (% of input)
Sources:

AIS, 2025

Show data
Input[kg N/ha] Output[kg N/ha] Efficiency of N[%]
1992 162.39 51.72 31.85
1993 148.35 53.14 35.82
1994 152.50 92.62 60.73
1995 154.24 89.38 57.95
1996 152.70 88.37 57.87
1997 161.99 100.00 61.74
1998 165.69 100.81 60.85
1999 163.60 95.29 58.25
2000 163.76 80.23 48.99
2001 162.83 78.79 48.39
2002 165.21 99.72 60.36
2003 160.59 65.56 40.82
2004 155.09 103.87 66.97
2005 148.55 107.86 72.61
2006 156.99 90.85 57.87
2007 155.67 98.52 63.28
2008 145.08 103.81 71.56
2009 158.62 107.26 67.62
2010 151.13 109.36 72.36
2011 154.77 108.39 70.03
2012 146.31 92.18 63.01
2013 147.91 81.76 55.28
2014 150.89 111.77 74.07
2015 155.24 113.54 73.14
2016 154.85 116.06 74.95
2017 152.57 91.18 59.77
2018 153.70 113.16 73.62
2019 153.60 113.26 73.74
2020 151.12 121.78 80.58
2021 155.89 109.73 70.39
2022 150.36 81.62 54.29
2023 143.71 110.17 76.66
Figure KM22-5: Gross nitrogen budget in selected EU Member States in the period 2010-2021
Sources:

EUROSTAT, 2025

Show data
2010[kg N/ha] 2011[kg N/ha] 2012[kg N/ha] 2013[kg N/ha] 2014[kg N/ha] 2015[kg N/ha] 2016[kg N/ha] 2017[kg N/ha] 2018[kg N/ha] 2019[kg N/ha] 2020[kg N/ha] 2021[kg N/ha] 2010-2021[kg N/ha]
Romania -0.90 -11.20 0.10 -16.60 -21.20 -8.90 -18.30 -22.90 -27.40 -27.60 1.10 -16.20 -14.17
Finland 57.10 50.20 -9.60 -12.60 -12.50 -12.30 -18.70 -5 58 43.70 -35.20 -8.70 7.87
Latvia 29.20 28.30 18.80 24 25.80 14.30 17.10 16.30 26.60 13.30 10.90 15.10 19.98
Lithuania 43.80 40 29.20 31.20 24.80 25 43.50 40.80 33.70 42.70 35.47
France 36.30 49.10 23.50 29.70 29.60 37.30 47.50 33.70 40.80 38 27.10 35.69
Bulgaria 14.20 11.90 24.20 15.80 27.60 28 71.10 65.80 61.80 28.80 54.20 35 36.53
Spain 35.20 29.50 39.50 32.70 46.30 45.40 39.40 51.30 40.40 46.20 38.90 41 40.48
Hungary 38 30.80 45.20 37.70 28.80 43.10 34.70 44.60 43 40.70 49.90 56.10 41.05
Portugal 40.50 39.80 44.30 39 45.70 45 46.90 44.10 43.40 43.60 43.60 38.10 42.83
Slovakia 45.70 32.20 49.60 49.30 34.40 51.70 38.30 54.30 50.80 51.20 42.20 44.90 45.38
Slovenia 41.77 46.38 54.12 66.15 39.12 41.69 38.79 61.39 40.54 40.34 29.34 46.15 45.48
Italy 58.80 62.50 61.50 61.80 59.60 61.10 53.80 62.40 58.20 57.20 56.10 56.20 59.10
Croatia 80.80 93.20 89.10 52.50 58.40 60.50 37.10 67 58.80 55.20 55.80 59.50 63.99
Germany 77.70 88.60 75.10 78.90 65.90 81.80 69.05 61.51 77.90 53.40 56.20 38.80 68.74
Czechia 67.10 79.50 88 75.70 63.30 98.30 92.30 102.40 94.70 75.60 56.90 62.90 79.73

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 2023, total nitrogen input decreased by 17%. The main reason is a 27% reduction in nitrogen consumption from mineral fertilizers. Nitrogen input from livestock manure decreased by 14%. Due to the reduced areas of utilized agricultural area, the input of atmospheric nitrogen and by seeds and seedlings decreased by 11%. Due to the increased extent of legume production, biological nitrogen fixation increased by 136%. Nitrogen input per hectare of utilized agricultural area decreased by 6%, mainly due to a 18% decrease in nitrogen input from mineral fertilizers per hectare of utilized agricultural area.

 

In the period 1992–2023, 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 43% 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 1992-2023 the gross nitrogen surplus varied between 29 and 111 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 1992–2023 decreased by 1.4 kg per ha per year or by 54% over the entire period. Net nitrogen surplus decreased by 1.2 kg per ha per year or by 85%. The lower nitrogen surplus was mainly due to a 43% increase in nitrogen uptake by crops and a 6% 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 55% of total nitrogen input was taken from agricultural land by crops in the period 1992–2007, the percentage increased to 69% in the period 2008–2023.

 

A realistic comparison of the gross nitrogen surplus with other EU Member States is not possible. Data is only available for 15 countries, with no data available for the countries that had the largest surpluses in the past (Cyprus, the Netherlands, Malta, Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, details in KM022 The Nitrogen Budget in Agriculture, 2021 version). Among the countries with available data, Slovenia belongs to a group of five countries with surpluses of 40–45 kg N/ha (Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Hungary and Spain), which follow the group with surpluses above 55 kg N/ha (Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Italy).


Methodology

 

 

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.