Official Statistics

Soil nutrient balances UK, 2023 - statistics notice

Published 12 December 2024

Soil nutrient balances provide a method for estimating the annual nutrient loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus to agricultural soils. They give an indication of the potential risk associated with losses of nutrients to the environment; losses which can impact on air and water quality and on climate change. The nutrient balances are used as a high-level indicator of farming’s pressure on the environment and of how that pressure is changing over time. The balances do not estimate the actual losses of nutrients to the environment, but significant nutrient surpluses are directly linked with losses to the environment.

Nutrient balances are of direct relevance to policies relating to agriculture and the environment including climate change, air quality, water quality, and habitats and biodiversity.

Key messages

• Estimates for 2023 show that the UK nitrogen balance was a surplus of 82.9 kg/ha of managed agricultural land. This represented an increase of 3.8 kg/ha (+4.8%) compared to 2022, and a decrease of 25.5 kg/ha (-23.5%) compared to 2000.

• Estimates for 2023 show that the UK phosphorus balance was a surplus of 2.9 kg/ha of managed agricultural land. This represented an increase of 0.1 kg/ha (+4.5%) compared to 2022, and a decrease of 6.6 kg/ha (-69.7%) compared to 2000.

1. UK Nitrogen balance

Figure 1. Summary of nitrogen balance for UK, 2000 to 2023 (kg N per hectare of managed agricultural land)

Notes:

1. From 2010 in England, June Survey data has been collected only for ‘commercial’ farms. For comparability, estimates for 2009 have been produced using June Survey data representing both ‘all farms’ (a) and only ‘commercial farms’ (b).

For the period 2022 to 2023 the key points are:

The overall UK nitrogen balance in 2023 was a surplus of 82.9 kg/ha, which represented an increase of 3.8 kg/ha (+4.8%) compared to 2022.

This was driven by a decrease in Total Offtake of 4.5kg/ha (-4.4%) primarily due to a reduction in offtake from cereal crops. Yield and production of wheat and winter barley were down in 2023, compared to 2022. Further details can be found in Chapter 7: Crops of Agriculture in the UK. There was also a small decrease in the estimated offtake of nitrogen due to pasture consumption by grazing livestock. The decrease in Total Offtake more than offset a decrease in Total Inputs of 0.7 kg/ha (-0.4%) mainly from a reduction in livestock manure production, as a result of reduced livestock numbers.

For the period 2000 to 2023 the key points are:

The overall UK nitrogen balance remained in surplus throughout the period but decreased by 25.5 kg/ha (-23.5%) from 108.4 kg/ha in 2000 to 82.9 kg/ha in 2023.

Since 2000, Total Inputs of nitrogen decreased by 55.6 kg/ha (-23.5%), which more than offset a decrease in Total Offtake of 30.1 kg/ha (-23.5%).

The main drivers behind the decrease in Total Inputs of nitrogen were reductions in the application of inorganic manufactured fertiliser and livestock manure production. The main drivers behind the decrease in Total Offtake of nitrogen were a decrease in pasture consumption due to a reduction in the number of grazing livestock and reduced cereal offtake.

The series break in 2009 is due to changes in the population of farms used for the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture, which provides much of the underlying data used to calculate these estimates.

Table 1.1. Nitrogen balance for UK, 2000, 2022 and 2023 (kg N per hectare of managed agricultural land)

Item	2000	2022	2023	Change 2022-2023	Change 2000-2023	% Change 2022-2023	% Change 2000-2023
Total Inputs	236.5	181.6	180.9	-0.7	-55.6	-0.4%	-23.5%
Total Offtake	128.2	102.6	98.1	-4.5	-30.1	-4.4%	-23.5%
Nutrient Balance (Inputs minus offtake)	108.4	79.1	82.9	+3.8	-25.5	+4.8%	-23.5%

Notes:

1. Managed agricultural land excludes rough grazing.
2. Changes have been computed on unrounded figures.

Table 1.2. Detailed nitrogen balance sheet for UK, 2000, 2022 and 2023 (thousand tonnes of N)

Item	2000	2022	2023	Change 2022-2023	Change 2000-2023	% Change 2022-2023	% Change 2000-2023
Total Inputs	2,805	2,194	2,202	+8	-603	+0%	-21%
Fertilisers	1,301	927	935	+9	-365	+1%	-28%
Inorganic Fertilisers	1,268	862	871	+9	-397	+1%	-31%
Total Organic Fertilisers (excluding livestock manure)	33	65	64	0	+32	0%	+97%
Net Input of Manure	1,180	986	966	-20	-214	-2%	-18%
Livestock Manure Production	1,196	1,001	981	-20	-216	-2%	-18%
Cattle	773	643	638	-5	-135	-1%	-18%
Pigs	73	56	51	-5	-22	-9%	-30%
Sheep and Goats	227	177	173	-4	-55	-2%	-24%
Poultry	116	120	114	-7	-2	-5%	-1%
Other Livestock	7	6	6	0	-2	-2%	-24%
Manure Not Spread on Land	-17	-15	-15	+0	+2	-1%	-10%
Other Inputs	325	282	301	+19	-23	+7%	-7%
Atmospheric Deposition	172	108	124	+17	-48	+15%	-28%
Biological Fixation (only applicable to N)	142	164	167	+2	+25	+1%	+17%
Seeds and Planting Material	10	10	10	+0	+0	+4%	+0%
Total Offtake	1,520	1,239	1,194	-45	-326	-4%	-21%
Total Harvested Crops	561	503	467	-36	-93	-7%	-17%
Cereals	453	397	361	-36	-93	-9%	-20%
Oil crops	36	43	38	-5	+2	-11%	+4%
Pulses and Beans	29	32	35	+3	+5	+9%	+19%
Industrial Crops	15	10	13	+3	-2	+29%	-15%
Other Crops	27	22	21	-1	-6	-4%	-21%
Total Forage	915	690	681	-9	-234	-1%	-26%
Harvested Fodder Crops	23	43	46	+3	+23	+7%	+103%
Pasture	892	647	635	-12	-257	-2%	-29%
Crop Residues	44	46	46	0	+1	-1%	+3%
Nutrient Balance (Inputs Minus Offtake)	1,285	955	1,009	+53	-277	+6%	-22%

Notes:

1. Changes have been computed on unrounded figures.

2. UK Phosphorus balance

Figure 2. Summary of Phosphorus balance for UK, 2000 to 2023 (kg P per hectare of managed agricultural land)

Notes:

1. From 2010 in England, June Survey data has been collected only for ‘commercial’ farms. For comparability, estimates for 2009 have been produced using June Survey data representing both ‘all farms’ (a) and only ‘commercial farms’ (b).

For the period 2022 to 2023 the key points are:

The overall UK phosphorus balance in 2023 was a surplus of 2.9 kg/ha, which represented an increase of 0.1 kg/ha (+4.5%) compared to 2022.

This was driven by a slightly higher decrease in Total Offtake of 0.9kg/ha (-5.1%), primarily due to a reduction in harvested crops, balanced against a lower decrease in Total Inputs of 0.8 kg/ha (-3.8%), primarily from small reductions in the use of inorganic manufactured fertiliser and livestock manure production. Further details can be found in the 2023 British Survey of Fertiliser Practice report (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fertiliser-usage). Yield and production of wheat and winter barley were down in 2023 leading to a reduction in cereal offtake. Further details can be found in Chapter 7: Crops of Agriculture in the UK.

For the period 2000 to 2023 the key points are:

The overall UK phosphorus balance remained in surplus throughout the period but decreased by 6.6 kg/ha (-69.7%) from 9.5 kg/ha in 2000 to 2.9 kg/ha in 2023.

Over this time, Total Inputs of Phosphorus decreased by 10.9 kg/ha (-35.5%), which more than offset a decrease in Total Offtake of 4.3 kg/ha (-20.1%).

As with nitrogen, the main drivers behind the decrease in Total Inputs of phosphorus were reductions in the application of inorganic manufactured fertiliser and livestock manure production.

The main driver behind the decrease in Total Offtake of phosphorus was a decrease in pasture consumption due to a reduction in the number of grazing livestock.

The series break in 2009 is due to changes in the population of farms used for the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture, which provides much of the underlying data used to calculate these estimates.

Table 2.1. Phosphorus balance for UK, 2000, 2022 and 2023 (kg P per hectare of managed agricultural land)

Item	2000	2022	2023	Change 2022-2023	Change 2000-2023	% Change 2022-2023	% Change 2000-2023
Total Inputs	30.9	20.7	19.9	-0.8	-10.9	-3.8%	-35.5%
Total Offtake	21.3	18.0	17.0	-0.9	-4.3	-5.1%	-20.1%
Nutrient Balance (Inputs minus offtake)	9.5	2.8	2.9	+0.1	-6.6	+4.5%	-69.7%

Notes:

1. Managed agricultural land excludes rough grazing.
2. Changes have been computed on unrounded figures.

Table 2.2. Detailed phosphorus balance sheet for UK, 2000, 2022 and 2023 (thousand tonnes of P)

Item	2000	2022	2023	Change 2022-2023	Change 2000-2023	% Change 2022-2023	% Change 2000-2023
Total Inputs	366	250	242	-8	-124	-3%	-34%
Fertilisers	158	74	70	-4	-88	-5%	-56%
Inorganic Fertilisers	138	48	45	-3	-94	-7%	-68%
Total Organic Fertilisers (excluding livestock manure)	20	26	26	0	+6	-2%	+30%
Net Input of Manure	201	169	165	-4	-36	-2%	-18%
Livestock Manure Production	201	169	165	-4	-36	-2%	-18%
Cattle	121	100	99	-1	-21	-1%	-18%
Pigs	15	11	10	-1	-5	-9%	-31%
Sheep and Goats	35	27	27	-1	-8	-2%	-24%
Poultry	28	29	27	-2	-1	-6%	-3%
Other Livestock	3	2	2	0	-1	-2%	-25%
Manure Not Spread on Land	0	0	0	NA	NA	NA	NA
Other Inputs	7	7	7	+0	+0	+1%	+5%
Atmospheric Deposition	5	5	5	0	+0	0%	+7%
Biological Fixation (only applicable to N)	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Seeds and Planting Material	2	2	2	+0	+0	+3%	+0%
Total Offtake	253	217	207	-10	-46	-4%	-18%
Total Harvested Crops	100	101	93	-8	-7	-8%	-7%
Cereals	82	83	75	-8	-7	-9%	-8%
Oil crops	7	9	8	-1	+0	-11%	+4%
Pulses and Beans	3	4	4	+0	+1	+9%	+19%
Industrial Crops	3	2	3	+1	0	+29%	-15%
Other Crops	4	4	3	0	-1	-4%	-18%
Total Forage	145	108	106	-2	-39	-2%	-27%
Harvested Fodder Crops	4	8	9	+1	+4	+7%	+101%
Pasture	141	100	98	-2	-43	-2%	-31%
Crop Residues	8	8	8	0	+0	-1%	+3%
Nutrient Balance (Inputs Minus Offtake)	113	33	35	+2	-78	+5%	-69%

Notes:

1. Changes have been computed on unrounded figures.

3. What you need to know about this release

3.1. Contact details

Responsible statistician: Andrew Fletcher

Email address: agri.environmentstatistics@defra.gov.uk

Enquiries: 02080 266449

For media queries between 9am and 6pm on weekdays: • Telephone: 0330 041 6560 • newsdesk@defra.gov.uk (monitored 9am to 6pm on weekdays)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Floor 3, Mallard House 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX

3.2. Official Statistics status

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You can read about how Official Statistics in Defra comply with these standards on the Defra Statistics website.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards using the contact details above. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

4. Background and methodology

4.1. Background

Soil nutrient balances provide a method for estimating the nutrient loadings of nitrogen and phosphorus to managed agricultural soils. Whilst a shortage of nutrients can limit the productivity of agricultural soils, a surplus of these nutrients poses a serious environmental risk. Losses of nutrients to the environment can impact on air quality (ammonia emissions), water quality (nitrate and phosphate levels in rivers) and climate change (nitrous oxide emissions). A soil nutrient balance estimate, expressed as a loading of nitrogen or phosphorus per hectare of managed agricultural land can be used as an indicator of the environmental risks. It provides a high level measure which can be used to monitor long term trends and to make meaningful comparisons between countries.

4.2. Methodology

A methodology for calculating soil nutrient balances has been developed by OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). Although based on an internationally recognised methodology, the nutrient balance estimates are subject to a level of uncertainty or error margins. The approach attempts to capture the full range of nutrient inputs and removals to soils from all sources. The input sources are: manures, mineral fertilisers, atmospheric deposition and biological fixation. The offtake outlets are: crop production and fodder production for livestock, including grazing. The nutrient input or offtake from each source is either estimated directly (atmospheric deposition) or calculated by applying a coefficient (e.g. for the amount of nitrogen that a dairy cow produces each year) to the corresponding physical data characteristic (e.g. number of dairy cows). The relevant coefficients are derived from research and the physical data is taken from a wide range of data sources many of which are already published as official statistics.

4.3. UK approach

The estimates within this statistics release are based methodology proposed by ADAS in a 2010 Defra funded project. This project was, in turn, based on existing OECD methodology. Minor modifications have since been made by Defra, however most of the original 2010 coefficients (principally relating to N and P content of various agricultural inputs and outputs) are still in use.

The estimates presented in this statistics release are underpinned by annual data from the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture (‘June Survey’). From 2010 in England, June Survey data was collected only for ‘commercial’ farms. For 1990 to 2008, June Survey data represented a larger population. For comparability, data for 2009 have been presented on both the definition used for 2000 to 2008 and that used from 2010 onwards. A full time series can be found in the accompanying datasets.

Managed agricultural land has been defined as the utilised agricultural area (UAA) excluding common land and sole right rough grazing. The balance per hectare is based on the area of managed agricultural land. This is based on the approximation that this is the only land to which significant levels of fertilisers and manures are applied. We are currently investigating potential methodological improvements to recognise changes to UK agricultural systems since the original methodology was devised. The 2021 data release (22 December 2022) included an adjustment to the estimate for the removal of straw, which resulted in an increase to the ‘Crop residues’ offtake component. The time series was backdated with the adjustment applied to all years for which data is published.

4.4. Future publications

Information on future publications can be found under ‘Our Portfolio’ on the ‘Statistics at Defra’ website on GOV.UK.

5. Glossary

Term	Definition
Nutrients	The key macro-nutrients required for crop growth which are nitrogen and phosphorus.
Inputs	The total amount of inputs of each nutrient to the soil. This can be through application of mineral fertilisers or organic manures, atmospheric deposition or biological fixation.
Offtake	The total amount of nutrients removed from the soil by the growth of crops, which are either harvested or grazed by livestock.
Nutrient balance	The difference between the inputs and the offtake for each nutrient.
Loading	Another term for the balance, conveying that this is the total net amount being loaded onto the soil over a year.
Surplus	If the annual inputs exceed the offtake the net balance represents a surplus of the nutrient. This surplus represents an environmental risk as it can be lost from the soil to the air or water courses.
Deficit	If the annual inputs are less than the offtake the net balance represents a deficit of the nutrient and hence the crop growth requirements will not have been met.
Atmospheric Deposition	The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is transferred into soils.
Biological Fixation	The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is incorporated into the tissues of plants and crops.