Publication

Reports 2020/09

Use of inorganic and organic fertilisers in agriculture 2018

This publication is in Norwegian only.

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Fertilizers are of great economic importance for agriculture, they are increasingly important for benchmarking agronomic and environmental impacts. In 2013 a sample survey was conducted concerning storage of manure and the use of mineral and organic fertilizers in Norway. At the end of this work it was recommended that similar surveys should be conducted with an interval of five years. Agricultural and environmental agencies in Norway have requested updated data to implement policies to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol, Gothenburg Protocol, water framework directive, nitrates directive, and for drawing up a new fertilizer regulation. In addition, Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Environment Agency need data as input to update their air emission accounts and for developing regional nutrient balances for agriculture.

Statistics Norway have for 2018 conducted a sample survey aimed towards agricultural holdings, to examine the use of mineral- and organic fertilizer on meadows for mowing and pastures, infield pastureland, potatoes, winter wheat, oats, barley, spring wheat, oil-seed, other green fodder crops, cauliflower/broccoli, carrot and onions. In total, the crops included in the survey covered 96 percent of the agricultural area in use. Further, the survey also examined animal hosing, manure storage and manure spreading practices. The population consisted of 34 249 agricultural holding with at least 5 calculated manure units and/or at least 5 hectares utilised agricultural area, where 5 260 holdings were drawn to participate in a mandatory survey, reaching a 97 percent response rate.

The results from the survey show that in 2018, fertilizers were spread at least once on 0,85 million hectares of agricultural land, or 89 per cent of total agricultural area in use. Mineral fertilizer was used on 83 percent, while manure was used on 42 percent of agricultural area in use. In total, it was estimated that 132 730 tonnes nitrogen (total-N), 15 600 tonnes phosphorous (P) and 71 720 tonnes potassium (K) were spread on agricultural land in Norway in 2018. Most of the manure were spread with blade spreader, amounting to 72 percent of the area. Ammonia emissions would be significantly reduced if manure is spread by using band spreader or direct ground injection. The agricultural area where manure spread by using band spreader and direct ground injection has increased from 8 percent in 2013 to 16 percent in 2018. Time passing between the spreading of manure on open field to its incorporation into the soil, is an important factor regarding emissions of ammonia and nitrous oxide. Results show that in 2018, 41 percent of open field area with spreading of manure were worked into the soil within 4 hours of spreading. The corresponding part in 2013 was 28 percent.

Storage of manure from cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, and poultry was covered by the survey. Gross stored nitrogen from these amounted to 69 520 tonnes of nitrogen (tot-N) in 2018. Stored manure from cattle amounted to most of the stored nitrogen (tot-N), with 69 percent, where manure cellar for slurry is the most prevalent. The usage of outdoor manure pits has increased some, from 18 percent in 2013 to 21 percent in 2018. The usage of cover on outdoor manure pits will contribute to less air emissions, as well as reduce the odour nuisance. Results from the survey show that 22 percent of gross stored nitrogen, stored in outdoor manure pits, were covered in 2018.

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