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Stickstoffüberschuss der Landwirtschaft
Year Value Units Series
1990 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1991 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1992 116.698 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1993 111.062 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1994 109.15 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1995 107.528 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1996 107.9 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1997 108.84 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1998 109.302 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1999 108.148 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2000 108.544 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2001 107.998 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2002 105.204 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2003 102.638 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2004 103.336 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2005 102.164 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2006 101.68 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2007 98.898 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2008 96.338 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2009 96.468 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2010 94.992 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2011 93.484 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2012 94.234 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2013 97.372 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2014 96.646 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2015 96.854 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2016 95.894 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2017 94.15 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2018 89.384 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2019 82.946 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2020 76.706 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2021 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2022 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
2030 Kilogram per hectare Moving five-year average shown for each middle year
1990 141.6 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1991 117.23 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1992 112.2 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1993 106.06 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1994 106.4 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1995 113.42 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1996 107.67 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1997 104.09 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1998 107.92 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
1999 111.1 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2000 115.73 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2001 101.9 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2002 106.07 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2003 105.19 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2004 97.13 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2005 102.9 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2006 105.39 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2007 100.21 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2008 102.77 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2009 83.22 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2010 90.1 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2011 106.04 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2012 92.83 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2013 95.23 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2014 86.97 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2015 105.79 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2016 102.41 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2017 93.87 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2018 90.43 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2019 78.25 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2020 81.96 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2021 70.22 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2022 62.67 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values
2030 Kilogram per hectare Calculated annual values

Data source: Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Julius Kühn Institute

Geographical Area: Germany

This table includes additional information to the above visualized indicators, i.e. a short definition of this indicator and a description of the politically determined target values as well as explaining the political intention behind selecting this indicator.

Definition

The indicator represents the annual nitrogen surplus for the agricultural sector, calculated as nitrogen input minus removal of nitrogen, in kilograms per hectare of utilised agricultural area.
Target and intention

Excess nitrogen input into the environment causes pollution of groundwater and surface water, the oversupply of nutrients (eutrophication) in inland waters, lakes and onshore ecosystems, the generation of greenhouse gases and acidifying atmospheric pollutants, each with negative consequences for the climate, biodiversity and landscape quality. For the period 2028 to 2032, a reduction of the nitrogen surpluses of the overall balance for Germany to 70 kilograms per hectare of utilised agricultural area on an annual average should be achieved.
Data status

The data published in the indicator report 2022 is as of 31 October 2022. The data shown on this platform was last updated in September 2024.

Text from the Indicator Report 2022 

The calculation takes into account nitrogen inputs by fertilisers, from biological nitrogen fixation, by atmospheric inputs which are not emitted by agriculture, by seed and planting material as well as imported and domestically produced feedstuff. Nitrogen removal results from plant and animal market products. Nitrogen surplus in its gaseous state can leak to the atmosphere or accumulate in soil or groundwater, enabling nitrogen input to rivers or other ecosystems. Hence, the nitrogen surplus from farming has a direct impact on the development of the indicators 6.1.b “Nitrate in groundwater“, 14.1.a “Nitrogen inputs via the inflows into the North and Baltic Seas“ and 15.2 “Eutrophication of ecosystems“. Nitrogen input from farming into the atmosphere has an impact on indicator 3.2.a “Emissions of air pollutants“ through formation of nitrogen dioxide and ammonia.

The indicator is calculated by the Institute for Crop and Soil Science at the Julius Kühn Institute and the Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resources Management at the University of Gießen. In 2020, fertilisers were the most important component of nitrogen input in the overall balance, accounting for 51.1 % (86 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare). Feedstuff contributed 36.9 % (62 kg/ha), the biological nitrogen fixation 8.2 % (14 kg/ha) and the non-agricultural emissions 1.9 % (3 kg/ha) to nitrogen input.

The relevant time series for the indicator is based on the moving five-year average of the total balances of the relevant year as well as the two preceding and subsequent years. Thereby, yearly meteorological and market fluctuations, which cannot be influenced by farms, are balanced. The indicator does not provide an interpretation regarding the regional distribution of nitrogen surpluses.

During the period from 1992 to 2018, the moving five-year average of nitrogen balance decreased by 25.4 % (from 116.6 to 87.0 kg per hectare and year). The decline of nitrogen surplus until 2010 resulted from diminished use of fertilisers and diminishing numbers of livestock in the new Länder.

Until 2015, nitrogen surplus stagnated. The marginal decline of the indicator in the remaining course of the time series is based on a minor reduction in mineral fertiliser use and improved harvest yields resulting from technical advances in plant production and breeding (more efficient nitrogen fertilisation, variety spectrum) combined with the simultaneous expansion in the cultivation of high-yield crop types (maize, wheat) as well as improved feed conversion by livestock.

Since 2015, the nitrogen surplus decreased and the recent reduction was 4.9 % in 2018. It is uncertain, to what extent extreme agroclimatic conditions (drought from 2018 until 2020) and the amended fertiliser regulation released in 2017 contributed to this positive trend. A reduction to 70 kg/ha is only possible, if this trend continues in the next years.

The synoptic table provides information about the evaluation of the indicator in previous years. It shows if the weather symbol assigned to an indicator was rather stable or volatile in the past years. (Evaluation of the Indicator Report 2022 )

Indicator

2.1.a Nitrogen surplus in agriculture
Target

Reduction of the nitrogen surpluses of the overall balance for Germany to 70 kilo-grams per hectare of utilised agricultural area on an annual average between 2028 and 2032
Year

2015

2016

2017

2018
Evaluation <p>Wolke</p> <p>Wolke</p> <p>Wolke</p> <p>Sonne</p>