Agriculture emitted more nitrogen in 2023 than in 2022. Due to the dry summer, there was less grass to fix nitrogen.
According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), nitrogen emissions were 6.5 percent higher last year. This concerns nitrogen that is not fixed in crops or in the soil and leaches into the water or ends up in the air.
The nitrogen surplus, at a total of 312 million kilograms, was the highest since 2018. However, the supply of nitrogen via concentrates decreased by 2 million kilos and fertilizer by 18 million kilos compared to 2021.
Less nitrogen was also emitted from livestock. This was the result of a different composition of roughage for cattle and a decline in the number of chickens and pigs.
However, this was of no avail because the grass grew less well and could therefore absorb less nitrogen.