Characteristics of Surface Nitrogen and Phosphorus Balances in the Seven Regions of Hungary from 1989 to 2005

Abstract

As a result of Hungary's membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), surface nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) balances on a country level are calculated and reported to the OECD annually. The Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (RISSAC) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is responsible for the calculations. Surface nutrient NP balances of each of the seven Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) 2 regions of Hungary were calculated for the period of 1989 (the starting year of political and economic transitions in the country) to 2005. For the environmental risk assessment of NP balances, it is also essential to take the soil NP status of the investigated area into consideration. Correlations between NP balances and soil NP status should be investigated on EU, country, or regional levels. The relevant agricultural databases of the Central Statistical Office of Hungary (CSOH) were used to ensure the accurate estimations of coefficients. Significant differences were found among the regions both in the input and output sides of the NP balances and, as a consequence, in the regional NP balances. Utilization of the agricultural area also differs among the regions, as a consequence of their geographical location, terrain features, soil and climate conditions, and different traditions. In general, the annual N balances of the studied period in the Hungarian regions were positive, whereas P balances were negative. Surface gross nutrient NP balances of each of the seven Hungarian regions decreased in the studied period, but characteristic differences between Hungarian regions still remained.