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The phosphorus (P) budget in agriculture decreased by 107% in the period 1992–2023. The decline is the result of a decreased P intake with mineral and livestock fertilizers, as well as the consequence of increased P uptake by agricultural crops. The period up to 2003 was characterized by a surplus of 11 to 16 kg per hectare. Thereafter, the surpluses decreased and reached an average value of + 1 kg P per hectare in the last five-year period. Given the concentrations of available P in agricultural soils, further reduction of the P surplus at the national level is not desirable.


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 transfer 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 1992–2023 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 1992–2023
Sources:

AIS, 2024

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 9069.55 5363.88 3538.37 46.05 121.24 59.14 39.01 0.51 1.34
2020 9144.87 5281.41 3668.48 47.51 147.47 57.75 40.12 0.52 1.61
2021 8640.26 5252.72 3182.08 46.94 158.52 60.79 36.83 0.54 1.83
2022 7684.01 4999.33 2396.61 48.52 239.54 65.06 31.19 0.63 3.12
2023 8600.41 4895.43 3415.68 49.76 239.54 56.92 39.72 0.58 2.79
Figure KM25-2: Trends and structure of phosphorus output on agricultural land in Slovenia in the period 1992–2023
Sources:

AIS, 2024

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 830.78 282 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 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 17.67 63.84 21.77 11.25 0.82 0.58 1.24 0.28 0.21
2009 8093 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 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
2020 9570.78 5678.87 2325.86 1284.67 61.12 42.43 125.85 44.05 7.95 59.34 24.30 13.42 0.64 0.44 1.31 0.46 0.08
2021 8558.24 5075.66 2173.73 1086.30 43.82 24.06 110.34 37.34 6.99 59.31 25.40 12.69 0.51 0.28 1.29 0.44 0.08
2022 6366.22 3557.95 1787.64 798.88 36.02 38.40 112.71 29.08 5.53 55.89 28.08 12.55 0.57 0.60 1.77 0.46 0.09
2023 8591.85 5293.44 2068.65 1010.61 41.49 26.29 122.75 23.59 5.03 61.61 24.08 11.76 0.48 0.31 1.43 0.27 0.06
Figure KM25-3: Phosphorous Budget in Slovenian Agriculture for the Period 1992–2023
Sources:

AIS, 2024

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 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 9069.55 8785.42 284.12 479.82 0.59
2020 9144.87 9570.78 -425.92 484.06 -0.88
2021 8640.26 8558.24 82.02 479.49 0.17
2022 7684.01 6366.22 1317.79 479.43 2.75
2023 8600.41 8591.85 8.56 480.72 0.02
Figure KM25-4: Phosphorus Budget in the Member countries of the European Union (EU-28) for the period 2005–2014
Sources:

EUROSTAT, 2024

Show data
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] 2005-2014 [kg P/ha]
Estonia -7.50 -2.30 -6.80 -5.20 -6 -5.70 -4.50 -6.20 0 0 -5.53
Bulgaria -2 -2 0 -4 -4 -5 -6 -4 -9 -6 -4.20
Slovakia -3.30 -2.10 -0.80 -5.50 -4.70 -2.90 -5.90 -2.90 -4.30 -8.30 -4.07
Hungary -2.40 -0.50 2.80 -3.80 -3 -2.50 -3.20 -0.40 -0.80 -2.70 -1.65
Czechia 0 1.10 2.10 0 -4.80 -2.10 -3.30 -1.30 -2.70 -3.90 -1.49
Germany 0.10 0.50 -0.50 -0.50 -4.90 -1.40 -0.40 -2.60 -1 -3.70 -1.44
Romania 1 0 4 1 1 -1 -3 -1 -4.50 -4.70 -0.72
Italy 0 3 2 -3 0 -1 -3 -2 -2 -1 -0.70
Sweden 1.40 2 0.70 0.90 -2.30 -0.10 -0.10 -0.40 0.10 -1.30 0.09
Finland 6.50 6.90 4.70 5 2.40 4.90 3.70 -7.20 -7.80 -8.10 1.10
Austria 2.70 3.20 3.50 2.50 -0.20 0.90 0.10 1.20 2.60 1 1.75
Greece 3 4 4 2 3 2 -1 -1 2 0 1.80
France 5.20 3.80 2.60 3.10 -1.60 1.20 2.50 0.20 1.60 0.50 1.91
Latvia 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 1.60 3.20 2.80 1.96
European Union 4.10 4.20 4 2 0.60 1.80 1.40 1.29 1.10 0.40 2.09
Spain 6 4.20 4.90 1.10 2.80 3.20 2.40 4.50 2.90 3.80 3.58
Portugal 9.70 2.10 6.90 1.20 1.30 4.40 2.90 4.30 3.30 4 4.01
Slovenia 5.31 8.49 7.39 5.49 2.10 2.93 2.79 4.22 5.93 1.32 4.60
Luxembourg 7 5 6 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4.70
Poland 4.80 9.70 6.50 7.60 3.90 5.10 5.70 3 3.20 0.30 4.98
Lithuania 13 9 4 6 -1 6 5 7 2 1 5.20
Belgium 11 10 9 4 2 5 5 6 6 5 6.30
United Kingdom 9 8 8 6 4 6 6 6 7 5 6.50
Croatia 12.40 17.50 12.90 8.80 0.80 7.20 6 7.50 3.50 7.70 8.43
Denmark 11 12 12 7 7 8 7 7 8 7 8.60
Netherlands 17 16.90 11.40 8.20 5.80 11.60 6.60 3.20 4.50 1.20 8.64
Ireland 22.20 22 20.60 17.40 16.50 17.90 17.50 18.10 20.50 20.50 19.32
Cyprus 28 28 31 33 29 31 32 30 29 32 30.30
Malta 45 46 49 43 36 33 26 27 30 30 36.50

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.

 


The main source of phosphorus (P) input to agricultural land in the last five years (2019–2023) represents livestock manure (60%), followed by mineral fertilizers (38%), other organic fertilizers (2.1%) and seeds and planting material (0.6%). The main source of P output represents fodder from permanent grassland (60%), followed by grain (25%) and green fodder from fields (13%). The trend analysis shows that during the period 1992–2023, the total input of P decreased from 14580 t P to 7914 t P, or by 46%. In the period 1992–2023 the input of P with mineral fertilisers decreased for 68% and with livestock fertilizers for 18%. The uptake of P by agricultural crops increased during the considered period. The trend analysis shows an increase from 6811 t P to 8690 t P, or by 26%.

The phosphorus surplus shows a clear decreasing trend. For the period up to 2003, surpluses were typical between 11 and 16 kg P per hectare. Thereafter, the surpluses decreased and reached an average value of + 1 kg P per hectare in the last five-year period. The trend analysis shows that the phosphorus budget during the period 1992–2023 decreased by 107% (from 14,9 to -1,0 kg P per hectare), which translates to about 0.5 kg P per hectare annually. The phosphorus budget is characterized by significant fluctuations between years. The large differences are mainly due to different weather conditions, which influence P uptake by the plants.

In the period 2005-2014, the phosphorus budget (+4.6 kg P per hectare) was above the average of the EU member states (+2.1 P kg per hectare).

The results on phosphorus budget should be interpreted in connection with the soil content of P. A potential risk for water pollution is represented by excessive P content in the soil and thus also in the soil solution. The results of the soil analyses show that Slovenia has more problems with a lack of phosphorus in the soil than with excesses. On average, 79% of meadow and 44% of arable soils do not reach the optimal supply of phosphorus, and the optimal supply is exceeded in 9% of meadow and 26% of arable soils (Babnik et al., 2011). It is favorable that livestock farms, which dispose of large amounts of P in livestock manure, are also characterized by a large output of P by crops (73% of total output represent fodder from permanent grassland and green fodder from fields). Further reduction of P surplus at the national level is therefore not desired.


Methodology

Other sources and literature

Babnik, D., Sušin, J., Jeretina, J., Verbič, J. Gospodarjenje s fosforjem in kalijem na govedorejskih kmetijah. V: Čeh, T. in sod. (ur.), Zbornik predavanj 20. mednarodno znanstveno posvetovanje o prehrani domačih živali "Zadravčevi-Erjavčevi dnevi", Radenci, 10. in 11. november 2011. Murska Sobota: Kmetijsko gozdarska zbornica Slovenije, Kmetijsko gozdarski zavod Murska Sobota, 2011, s. 140-154.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION, EUROSTAT. 2013. Methodology and Handbook EUROSTAT/OECD. Nutrient Budgets EU 27, Norway, Switzerland