Flows of plant nutrients in food production and consumption in a Swedish district

Flows of plant nutrients in the food and the fodder cycle were quantified i n a district in southern Sweden. In the agricultural system with a livestoc k density 30% higher than the Swedish average, the N-surplus was 100 kg N h a(-1) and P-surplus was 9 kg P ha(-1) There is a relation between nutrient surpluses in agriculture and livestock density. A large part of the N-surpl us is emitted as nitrate-N and ammonia-N while the P-surplus accumulates in the soil. The nutrients in the organic waste from the food consumption in the district corresponded to 22 kg N ha(-1) and 4 kg P ha(-1), the populati on density related to arable land was 15% higher than the Swedish average. Due to the present system of treatment of the surplus products from food co nsumption, 11% of P and less than 3% of N in the food intake were recycled back to arable land.