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.

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

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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BASED ON PROVISIONAL ESTIMATES FOR ILLUSTRATION ONLY 5