The Phosphorus Budget in Agriculture | Environmental indicators

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The phosphorus (P) budget in agriculture declined over the period 1992–2019 (for 97%). Reduction is the consequence of a decreased P intake with mineral and livestock fertilizers, as well as the consequence of increasing the P uptake by agricultural crops. The period up to 2005 was characterized by a surplus of 10 to 15 kg per hectare while after 2005 they were mostly less than 5 kg per hectare. In the period 2004–2015, the P surplus in Slovenia (+4.5 kg per hectare) was above the EU average (+2.2 kg per hectare). Given the concentrations of available P in agricultural soils, further reduction of the P surplus at the the national level is not desirable.

Definition

The phosphorus (P) balance represents the difference between the input of P on agricultural land and the uptake of P from agricultural land with harvested crops. The total input is the sum of P, which is applied to the agricultural land with livestock fertilizers, mineral fertilizers, other organic fertilizers (sewage sludge, compost, digestates) and P, which comes to agricultural land with seeds and planting material. Uptake of P represents P in harvested crops. Long-term balance surplus P leads to an increase in P stocks in the soil and poses a potential risk for water, whereas the long-term balance deficit of P poses a potential risk for declining of soil fertility. It should be pointed out that this is a potential risk, as the actual risk depends on many factors, such as soil supply with P, meteorological conditions, the ability of the soil to bind P, farming methods, etc. Unlike nitrogen (N), which is characterized by a relatively rapid transition from soil to water and air, P is relatively stable in the soil. Long-term surpluses/deficits of P can be problematic, whereas the surpluses/deficits in the individual years do not have a significant impact on the environment and soil fertility.

The P balance was expressed in tonnes at the national level and in kilograms of P per hectare of utilized agricultural area. Data for the period 1992–2019 are presented. The structure of input and output is also presented and the comparison with the countries of the European Union (EU-28) is given.

Charts

Figure KM25-1: Trends and structure of phosphorus input on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2019

Sources:

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (2021)

Show data


	Total P input [t P]	Livestock manure [t P]	Mineral fertilisers [t P]	Seeds and seedlings [t P]	Other organic fertilisers [t P]	Livestock manure [%]	Mineral fertilisers [%]	Seeds and seedlings [%]	Other organic fertilisers [%]
1992	13345.36	6489.10	6761.49	55.55	39.22	48.62	50.67	0.42	0.29
1993	13593.50	6016.16	7482.35	55.76	39.22	44.26	55.04	0.41	0.29
1994	14288.91	5922.48	8273.94	53.26	39.22	41.45	57.90	0.37	0.27
1995	13664.33	5978.15	7593.25	53.72	39.22	43.75	55.57	0.39	0.29
1996	13237.03	5738.47	7410.31	51.46	36.80	43.35	55.98	0.39	0.28
1997	13511.73	5817.90	7610.72	48.73	34.38	43.06	56.33	0.36	0.25
1998	14130.97	5829.80	8219.80	49.41	31.96	41.26	58.17	0.35	0.23
1999	14527.74	5845.25	8608.83	48.36	25.30	40.24	59.26	0.33	0.17
2000	14335.63	6297.30	7968.31	51.37	18.65	43.93	55.58	0.36	0.13
2001	13523.57	6199.69	7250.94	51.87	21.07	45.84	53.62	0.38	0.16
2002	13550.77	6619.40	6854.06	48.98	28.33	48.85	50.58	0.36	0.21
2003	12831.81	6076.54	6685.08	49.66	20.52	47.36	52.10	0.39	0.16
2004	12085.37	5627.53	6392.11	49.19	16.54	46.56	52.89	0.41	0.14
2005	11644.79	5716.31	5864.24	48.36	15.88	49.09	50.36	0.42	0.14
2006	11399.63	5741.13	5583.06	50.60	24.85	50.36	48.98	0.44	0.22
2007	11623.93	5974.27	5564.72	50.71	34.23	51.40	47.87	0.44	0.29
2008	10960.84	5655.10	5211.06	51.05	43.63	51.59	47.54	0.47	0.40
2009	9075.62	5629.97	3342.32	50.19	53.14	62.03	36.83	0.55	0.59
2010	9917.82	5479.39	4322.97	47.45	68.01	55.25	43.59	0.48	0.69
2011	9329.89	5278.13	3934.82	44.93	72.02	56.57	42.17	0.48	0.77
2012	9209.58	5198.16	3881.99	47.93	81.51	56.44	42.15	0.52	0.89
2013	9165.68	5142.51	3885.92	46.24	91.01	56.11	42.40	0.50	0.99
2014	9396.99	5254.03	3991.14	48.26	103.56	55.91	42.47	0.51	1.10
2015	9649.88	5372.61	4119.51	47.60	110.16	55.68	42.69	0.49	1.14
2016	9680.39	5507.77	3999.87	48.40	124.34	56.90	41.32	0.50	1.28
2017	9510.73	5381.19	3987.65	47.57	94.32	56.58	41.93	0.50	0.99
2018	9568.86	5382.91	3987.21	46.91	151.82	56.25	41.67	0.49	1.59
2019	9100.12	5363.88	3538.37	46.05	151.82	58.94	38.88	0.51	1.67

Export Table Data

Figure KM25-2: Trends and structure of phosphorus output on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2019

Sources:

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (2021)

Show data


	Total P output [t P]	Temporary and permanent pasture nett production [t P]	Cereals [t P]	Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land [t P]	Root crops [t P]	Fruits [t P]	Industrial crops [t P]	Vegetables [t P]	Dried Pulses [t P]	Temporary and permanent pasture nett production [%]	Cereals [%]	Plants harvested green/Fodder from arable land [%]	Root crops [%]	Fruits [%]	Industrial crops [%]	Vegetables [%]	Dried Pulses [%]
1992	4680.49	2748.49	1131.92	444.54	233.73	40.19	56.74	22.35	2.52	58.72	24.18	9.50	4.99	0.86	1.21	0.48	0.05
1993	4845.59	2575.64	1299.28	577.63	271.90	43.03	50.89	24.33	2.86	53.15	26.81	11.92	5.61	0.89	1.05	0.50	0.06
1994	8170.58	5018.04	1631.95	956.35	416.64	48.04	69.62	22.71	7.22	61.42	19.97	11.70	5.10	0.59	0.85	0.28	0.09
1995	7701.48	4594.70	1578.83	990.43	429.11	43.19	31.88	25.26	8.08	59.66	20.50	12.86	5.57	0.56	0.41	0.33	0.10
1996	7449.33	4372.03	1510.81	1018.40	431.47	50.11	34.16	26.34	6.01	58.69	20.28	13.67	5.79	0.67	0.46	0.35	0.08
1997	8111.81	4847.77	1685.29	1093.31	383.34	42.67	28.13	25.95	5.35	59.76	20.78	13.48	4.73	0.53	0.35	0.32	0.07
1998	8128.08	4752.71	1727.25	1099.68	441.27	49.19	29.12	24.04	4.83	58.47	21.25	13.53	5.43	0.61	0.36	0.30	0.06
1999	7802.14	4776.79	1483.98	983.92	458.95	41.89	26.09	27.16	3.36	61.22	19.02	12.61	5.88	0.54	0.33	0.35	0.04
2000	6698.44	3929.17	1531.20	768.29	366.06	57.66	19.17	23.91	2.97	58.66	22.86	11.47	5.46	0.86	0.29	0.36	0.04
2001	6545.10	4024.06	1538.03	650.67	239.51	42.74	28.06	18.90	3.14	61.48	23.50	9.94	3.66	0.65	0.43	0.29	0.05
2002	8241.33	5087.98	1894.00	830.78	282.00	54.61	65.72	20.59	5.64	61.74	22.98	10.08	3.42	0.66	0.80	0.25	0.07
2003	5475.63	3190.76	1236.66	697.97	218.68	49.02	59.36	19.60	3.57	58.27	22.58	12.75	3.99	0.90	1.08	0.36	0.07
2004	8312.73	5129.58	1808.36	949.06	263.35	64.27	64.78	24.61	8.72	61.71	21.75	11.42	3.17	0.77	0.78	0.30	0.10
2005	8944.42	5542.97	1787.70	1164.11	279.60	52.06	68.35	25.82	23.81	61.97	19.99	13.01	3.13	0.58	0.76	0.29	0.27
2006	7235.09	4451.81	1530.85	828.35	238.53	51.00	68.17	23.26	43.12	61.53	21.16	11.45	3.30	0.70	0.94	0.32	0.60
2007	7938.95	5071.75	1649.78	895.17	87.37	54.14	136.38	19.40	24.97	63.88	20.78	11.28	1.10	0.68	1.72	0.24	0.31
2008	8256.25	5270.70	1797.80	928.48	68.09	47.92	102.59	23.00	17.67	63.84	21.77	11.25	0.82	0.58	1.24	0.28	0.21
2009	8093.00	5210.32	1652.79	973.26	72.59	50.20	99.90	24.91	9.04	64.38	20.42	12.03	0.90	0.62	1.23	0.31	0.11
2010	8503.20	5495.26	1764.31	954.48	63.61	51.44	147.93	17.82	8.35	64.63	20.75	11.22	0.75	0.60	1.74	0.21	0.10
2011	8050.13	4887.94	1885.13	987.11	59.54	52.63	140.29	23.20	14.28	60.72	23.42	12.26	0.74	0.65	1.74	0.29	0.18
2012	7183.67	4259.94	1787.89	872.36	50.66	36.34	148.58	21.23	6.67	59.30	24.89	12.14	0.71	0.51	2.07	0.30	0.09
2013	6327.95	3912.08	1418.71	746.67	41.82	52.24	130.67	21.66	4.10	61.82	22.42	11.80	0.66	0.83	2.06	0.34	0.06
2014	8760.70	5288.02	2013.19	1142.18	57.59	49.17	177.31	26.34	6.90	60.36	22.98	13.04	0.66	0.56	2.02	0.30	0.08
2015	8714.36	5331.43	1936.34	1207.42	54.18	61.84	85.41	29.43	8.32	61.18	22.22	13.86	0.62	0.71	0.98	0.34	0.10
2016	8915.47	5395.54	1979.61	1261.15	51.09	40.52	141.91	32.92	12.73	60.52	22.20	14.15	0.57	0.45	1.59	0.37	0.14
2017	7079.32	4090.15	1697.26	1036.13	47.89	29.77	136.29	30.12	11.70	57.78	23.97	14.64	0.68	0.42	1.93	0.43	0.17
2018	8685.06	5297.83	1851.54	1256.82	49.10	67.02	120.06	31.32	11.36	61.00	21.32	14.47	0.57	0.77	1.38	0.36	0.13
2019	8785.42	5327.37	1990.87	1207.71	47.98	39.07	121.62	39.33	11.47	60.64	22.66	13.75	0.55	0.44	1.38	0.45	0.13

Export Table Data

Figure KM25-3: Phosphorus budget in Slovenian agriculture for the period 1992–2019

Sources:

Agricultural Institute of Slovenia (2021)

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

Export Table Data

Figure KM25-4: Phosphorus Budget in the Member countries of the European Union (EU-28) for the period 2004–2015

Sources:

EUROSTAT (2018)

Show data


	2004 [kg P/ha]	2005 [kg P/ha]	2006 [kg P/ha]	2007 [kg P/ha]	2008 [kg P/ha]	2009 [kg P/ha]	2010 [kg P/ha]	2011 [kg P/ha]	2012 [kg P/ha]	2013 [kg P/ha]	2014 [kg P/ha]	2015 [kg P/ha]	2004–2015 [kg P/ha]
Estonia	-5	-7	-2	-7	-5	-6	-6	-5	-6	-8	-7	-7	-5.92
Bulgaria	-3	-2	-2	0	-4	-4	-5	-6	-4	-9	-6	-6	-4.25
Slovakia	-5	-3	-2	-1	-5	-5	-3	-6	-3	-4	-8	-5	-4.17
Hungary	-2	-2	-1	3	-4	-3	-2	-3	0	-1	-2	-1	-1.50
Germany	-1	0	1	0	-1	-5	-1	0	-3	-1	-4	-2	-1.42
Czech Republic	0	0	1	2	0	-5	-2	-3	-1	-3	-4	-1	-1.33
Italy	0	0	3	2	-3	0	-1	-3	-2	-2	-1	-1	-0.67
Romania	-2	1	0	4	1	1	-1	-3	1	-2	-2	-1	-0.25
Sweden	1	2	2	1	2	-2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.58
Austria	0	1	2	3	-2	0	1	0	2	4	2	2	1.25
Latvia	1	2	2	2	1	1	2	2	1	3	2	2	1.75
Greece	4	3	4	4	2	3	2	-1	-1	2	0	0	1.83
European Union	3	4	4	4	2	0	2	1	2	2	1	1	2.17
France	5	5	4	4	4	-2	1	2	1	2	1	0	2.25
Ireland	8	7	6	5	1	0	2	1	2	4	4	5	3.75
Spain	5	6	4	5	1	3	3	2	5	3	4	4	3.75
Slovenia	8	5	8	7	5	2	3	3	4	6	1	2	4.50
Poland	3	5	10	7	8	4	5	6	3	3	0	2	4.67
Luxembourg	6	7	5	6	4	4	4	5	4	4	4	4	4.75
Finland	7	6	7	5	5	2	5	4	4	4	4	4	4.75
Lithuania	10	13	9	4	6	-1	6	5	7	2	1	1	5.25
Portugal	13	11	6	9	4	4	6	4	5	4	5	5	6.33
Belgium	11	11	10	9	4	2	5	5	6	6	5	5	6.58
United Kingdom	9	9	8	8	6	4	6	6	6	7	5	5	6.58
Croatia	11	12	18	12	9	1	7	6	7	3	6	4	8
Netherlands	13	16	17	12	8	6	12	6	3	5	1	3	8.50
Denmark	13	11	12	12	7	7	8	7	7	8	7	7	8.83
Cyprus	29	28	28	31	33	29	31	32	30	29	32	32	30.33
Malta	57	45	46	49	43	36	33	26	27	30	30	30	37.67

Export Table Data

Goals

Improved soil quality.
Good chemical and ecological status achieved for all surface waters.
Good chemical and quantitative status achieved for all underground waters.
Reducing the negative impacts of agriculture on water, soil and air.
Maintaining the production potential and area of agricultural land.

Methodology

Last modified: 25.01.2021

Author(s): Jože Verbič, Janez Sušin, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia

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[KM25] The Phosphorus Budget in Agriculture

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