1. Soil Gross Nutrient Balances
Methodology developed by OECD and adopted by Eurostat
Calculates nutrient loadings to agricultural soils
Complex system based on wide range of data sources
Nutrient inputs and off-takes estimated by applying coefficients to physical data
Physical data on livestock numbers, crop areas, crop yields, fertiliser use
Coefficients developed by experts within other research projects (e.g. ADAS)
Eurostat-funded project to develop UK balances
Work led by Statistics team in FFG, working closely with policy leads and in consultation with experts from ADAS, CEH, IGER etc.

2. Soil Gross Nutrient Balances
Generic analytical tool relevant to air quality, nutrient management, water quality, climate change
Overall balance (kg of N per ha) gives headline figure but components (e.g. N from livestock manure) also policy relevant
Results give an overall measure of environmental pressure
Relevant to issues such as pollution swapping
Approach makes no attempt to estimate:-
Loss pathways to air, water etc.
Cumulative balances
Links with other models and approaches such as ALOWANCE and MANURES-GIS 2

3. Soil Gross Nutrient Balances
National level balances for UK
Building capacity to produce annual estimates at national level and finer spatial scale
Geographic relevant units relevant to policy interest e.g. regional, river catchment, NVZ
Present data as maps, could use
Total loadings per ha
Variation from mean loading or critical loading
Change over time 3

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5. BASED ON PROVISIONAL ESTIMATES FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY5