AGRICULTURAL NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM BALANCES IN GERMANY -METHODOLOGY AND TRENDS 1970 TO 1995

The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balances for agriculture in Ger many during the period 1970 to 1995 (western states) and 1990 to 1995 (entire: Germany including the states of the former German Democratic Republic), respectivly, are calculated according to the PARCOM guideli nes. The surplus of the basic national mineral balance Is subdivided i nto the crop production surplus and the livestock production balance s urplus. In the former West German states, P and K basic surpluses have declined about 60% since 1980, while the N-surplus has-dropped 23% si nce 1987. The efficiency of agricultural nutrient use has improved cor respondingly. A sensitivity analysis and an error estimation the accur acy of the results. The relevance and limits of interpreting nutrient balances on a national scale are clarified by a critical appraisal of the balance surplus values.