Regional Nutrient Budgets for Australia.

The amounts of N, P, K and S applied as fertilisers and removed as agricultural commodities were calculated using ABS data for 2007-8 and 2009-10 for all Australian NRM regions. Graphics here are for 2009/2010.

The mass of P in commodities was 43% and 50% of mass applied in 2007-8 and 2009-10 (net input of 190 kt P and 170 kt P) nationally. Regions with (commodity P)/(fertiliser P) < 0.3 and > 10 kt P net input in both years were Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan, and Glenelg Hopkins.

Nationally, the mass of K in commodities was 2.5 and 3.1 times mass applied in 2007-8 and 2009-10 (net export of 196 kt P and 256 kt P). Regions with > 10 kt K net export and (commodity K)/(fertiliser K) >10 in both years were Wimmera, and Northern and Yorke.

kg K/ha (K_in-K_out) per hectare of agricultural land in 2009-10.

The mass of S removed in commodities was 49% and 62% of the mass applied in 2007-8 and 2009-10 (net export of 91 kt S and 62 kt S) nationally. Strong net addition of S in both survey years occurred in South-East (SA), South-West (WA) and Glenelg Hopkins.

Nitrogen balance depends on the method used to calculate biological nitrogen fixation. Simply using fertiliser amounts (as below), regions with strong net input of N were Port Phillip and Westernport, West Gippsland, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Wet Tropics, and Condamine.

These balances will be contrasted against the data from 2001 and used to make assessments of land management practices. A final report will contrast the two audit values by Natural Resource Management Region and implications for nutrient management research and policy will be discussed.