Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet, 2021
The Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet brings together evidence on flows of nitrogen in Scotland from across the whole economy to understand and keep track of the use of nitrogen.
Table 8. With just three years of data, it is too early for patterns to emerge.
Total inputs and useful outputs, and the resultant NUEs, for years from 2019 to 2021. Inputs and outputs in kt N /yr
|
NUE Groups |
Input 2019 |
Output 2019 |
NUE 2019 |
Input 2020 |
Output 2020 |
NUE 2020 |
Input 2021 |
Output 2021 |
NUE 2021 |
|
Arable |
91.7 |
58.0 |
63% |
88.9 |
58.2 |
65% |
86.7 |
56.1 |
65% |
|
Livestock |
198.7 |
20.1 |
10% |
197.3 |
20.0 |
10% |
197.2 |
19.7 |
10% |
|
Whole Agriculture |
197.8 |
55.0 |
28% |
185.0 |
55.4 |
30% |
183.8 |
51.5 |
28% |
|
Aquaculture |
21.2 |
7.3 |
35% |
22.9 |
6.9 |
30% |
21.2 |
7.4 |
35% |
|
All Food |
219.0 |
62.3 |
28% |
208.0 |
62.3 |
30% |
205.0 |
59.0 |
29% |
|
Forestry |
28.2 |
7.5 |
27% |
28.2 |
7.7 |
27% |
27.3 |
8.2 |
30% |
|
Whole Economy |
317.5 |
78.2 |
25% |
300.7 |
78.1 |
26% |
296.0 |
75.1 |
25% |
Compared to 2020, the whole economy used less Nitrogen in 2021 ( 300.7 kt N in 2020 compared to 296 kt N). However, this reduction in inputs did not result in an increase in efficiency, the whole economy NUE is slightly lower, driven by a decrease in measured outputs. This decrease in outputs was enough to outweigh the decrease in inputs.
Looking at all agriculture, a decrease in efficiency from 30% to 28% is shown between 2020 and 2021. Agriculture also saw a decrease in both inputs and outputs, and just as with the whole econonmy figure the decrease in outputs was enough to outweight the decrease in inputs to cause a reduction in efficiency.
There was an increase in efficiency seen in Aquaculture from 2020 to 2021, from 30% to 35% . This is dues to both a decrease in the feed used and an increase in the harvest.
Caution should be taken when comparing NUE values from year to year. The SNBS is a relatively new publication and there are still further improvements to be made with data sources. The filling in of any gaps in either the measured inputs or measured outputs would result in either a decrease or increase in the NUE. Methodology related changes in the NUE may also be seen when switching sources to sources more suitable for yearly updates. See sections Revisions and Next Steps for changes to the data for this release and planned changes in future releases.
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