Written Question · S1W-23830 · Session 1
What the rate of application of nitrate fertilisers was in (a) the former Grampian region and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the last s…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of application of nitrate fertilisers was in (a) the former Grampian region and (b) Scotland as a whole in each of the last seven years.
The answer
The information requested is given in the following table: | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000
Scotland | Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)
All Tillage | 128 | 140 | 122 | 134 | 131 | 126 | 135
All Grass | 111 | 114 | 100 | 124 | 119 | 117 | 110
All Crops and Grass | 118 | 124 | 108 | 128 | 124 | 121 | 118
North East (Aberdeenshire & Moray) | Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)
All Tillage | 132 | 122 | 112 | 61 | 104 | 107 | 128
All Grass | 117 | 127 | 131 | 75 | 97 | 123 | 118
All Crops and Grass | 123 | 125 | 121 | 67 | 100 | 114 | 123
Source: British Survey of Fertiliser PracticeAnnual changes in relative cropping areas, as well as any change in fertiliser practice for individual crops, may affect nutrient application rates when aggregated across the main crop groupings such as all tillage, all grass and crops and grass.Unusual seasonal weather can also influence fertiliser usage in some years.The unusually low overall nitrogen application rates for north east Scotland in 1997 is explained by the fact that there were very few fields sampled in that area that year (only 141 fields compared with 550 fields in the 2000 sample). Moreover, the fields that were sampled in the north east in 1997 predominantly grew spring barley and root crops for stockfeed, where nitrogen application rates are typically low. The 2000 sample on the other hand included fields growing winter wheat, winter barley and winter oilseed rape, where application rates are very much higher. The small number of fields surveyed and the small number of types of crop represented in 1997 means that the estimates for the north east for the overall "all grass" and "all tillage" nitrogen application rates are not very robust and will have associated large standard errors.
Scotland | Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)
All Tillage | 128 | 140 | 122 | 134 | 131 | 126 | 135
All Grass | 111 | 114 | 100 | 124 | 119 | 117 | 110
All Crops and Grass | 118 | 124 | 108 | 128 | 124 | 121 | 118
North East (Aberdeenshire & Moray) | Nitrogen overall application rate (kg/ha)
All Tillage | 132 | 122 | 112 | 61 | 104 | 107 | 128
All Grass | 117 | 127 | 131 | 75 | 97 | 123 | 118
All Crops and Grass | 123 | 125 | 121 | 67 | 100 | 114 | 123
Source: British Survey of Fertiliser PracticeAnnual changes in relative cropping areas, as well as any change in fertiliser practice for individual crops, may affect nutrient application rates when aggregated across the main crop groupings such as all tillage, all grass and crops and grass.Unusual seasonal weather can also influence fertiliser usage in some years.The unusually low overall nitrogen application rates for north east Scotland in 1997 is explained by the fact that there were very few fields sampled in that area that year (only 141 fields compared with 550 fields in the 2000 sample). Moreover, the fields that were sampled in the north east in 1997 predominantly grew spring barley and root crops for stockfeed, where nitrogen application rates are typically low. The 2000 sample on the other hand included fields growing winter wheat, winter barley and winter oilseed rape, where application rates are very much higher. The small number of fields surveyed and the small number of types of crop represented in 1997 means that the estimates for the north east for the overall "all grass" and "all tillage" nitrogen application rates are not very robust and will have associated large standard errors.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-23830 by reference.