1. Methodological studies in the field of Agro-Environmental Indicators
Lot 1. Nitrogen and phosphorus excretion factors  
N P

2. Background

3. Manure nitrogen
Total amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus in manure in EU-27 are as large as the amounts in mineral fertilisers.
Valuable source of organic matter and other nutrients
Also large source of pollution of water and air
Relevant to various Environmental policies
Nitrates Directive & Water Framework Directive
National Emission Ceiling Directive & Gothenburg Protocol
Large industrial Emissions Directive (IPPC)
Climate change mitigation targets

4. Difference between ‘excretion’ and ‘production’
Excretion = ‘under the tail’
Production = Amount of nitrogen in the manure storage (= excretion – gaseous nitrogen losses during storage); equivalent to “available for application”

5. Definition of the problem
Uncertainties in the estimated total nitrogen and phosphorus excretion in Member States and EU-28, due to
Lack of agreed, uniform procedures for the estimation of nitrogen and phosphorus excretion
Lack of agreed, uniform procedures for the collection of data and information needed to estimate excretion coefficients

6. General objective of the project
“to bring clarity into the issue of excretion factors so that a recommendation on a single, common methodology to calculate N and P excretion coefficients can be identified.
This methodology should be flexible enough to allow local conditions to be taken into account, but without distorting the picture”.
October 2012 – March 2014

7. Specific objectives
To create an overview of the different methodologies, and analyse their strengths and weaknesses;
To set up a database with excretion factors;
To provide guidelines for a coherent methodology;
To create default P-excretion factors;
To identify the main components of the calculations of excretion factors and the data requirements.

8. Seven tasks Task 1 Overview of existing excretion factors
Task 2 In-depth analyses of selected country reports
Task 3 Analyses of the coherence & differences
Task 4 Regional representativeness
Task 5 Guidelines for a common methodology
Task 6 Default P excretion factors
Task 7 Expert/ statistician workshop

9. Process and procedures
Desk study and literature review
Consultations with experts from Member States
Progress and intermediate results reviewed 4 times with Steering Group
Reviews by experts

10. Draft Final Reports are reviewed & available
Draft reports are reviewed:
Internal review procedures
Experts from Member States
Co-chairs of Expert Panels of TFEIP and TFRN
At circa website
On request to authors

11. Consortium Livestock Research Animal scientists Animal nutritionists
Alterra
Agronomists
Environmental scientists

12. Suggestions for improvement are welcome!!