Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in Poland as a tool for sustainable nutrients management

Abstract

In the paper the nitrogen and phosphorus balances calculated according to OECD methodology are presented on regional and country levels. For the whole Poland the balance of nitrogen shows surplus of about 45 kg N*ha^-1 a^-1 with high variability among the different regions (voivodships). The balance of phosphorus for the country is slightly positive but low P surpluses, and in some regions even deficits raise the concern of not sustainable phosphorus management practices. The balance of phosphorus was confronted with the content of available phosphorus in the soils.