Surveys on agricultural distribution and agricultural use of fertilizers in Italy

Mario Adua

adua@istat.it

ISTAT- National Institute of Statistics

Summary

Surveys:

1. Distribution of fertilizers for agricultural use

2. FSS – Survey on structural agricultural holdings

3. Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation

4. Use of plant protection products in specifics crops

Distribution of fertilizers for agricultural use

General information

Type of source: census statistical surveySurvey unit: fertilizers distributorScope or coverage: distribution of 75 types of fertilizers, crops, volumes in Kg of net nutrients per hectare cultivatedRappresentativity: exhaustive

1

Distribution of fertilizers for agricultural use

Reference period: calendar yearFrequency: annualGeographic coverage: NUTS 3Non-response rate: not significantTechniques of data collection: postal survey

1

Variables surveyed

Distributed quantity of 64 types of fertilizersDistributed quantity of 6 types of nutrients (N, K2O, P2O5, mesoelements, microelements, organic substances)Distributed quantity of types of nutrients per cultivated hectare

Distribution of fertilizers for agricultural use

2

General information

Type of source: random sampling statistical surveySampling frame: agricultural census databaseSurvey unit: agricultural holding

FSS- structure of agricultural holdings

Scope or coverage: utilized agricultural area, livestock, UDE, use of mineral, organic and organic-mineral fertilizers in agricultural areaRappresentativity: 2,5%Reference period: 2003 - 2005

2 FSS- structure of agricultural holdings

FSS- structure of agricultural holdings

Frequency: on time studyGeographic coverage: NUTS 2Non-response rate:8%Techniques of data collection: face to face interview

2

Variables surveyedArea of holding treated with chemical fertilizers (ha)Area of holding treated with organic fertilizers (ha)Area of holding treated with organic-mineral fertilizers (ha)Quantity of organic fertilizers distributed by type (manure, sewage, etc)

FSS- structure of agricultural holdings

Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation3

General information

Type of source: random sampling statistical surveySampling frame: agricultural census databaseSurvey unit: agricultural holdingRappresentativity: 1,25%

Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation3

Scope or coverage: consumption of 64 types of fertilizers and consumption of 6 types of PPP and 3 toxicology classes by the main fruit trees cultivation Reference period: 2002Frequency of the survey: on the time study

Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation3

Geographic coverage: NUTS 2Non response rate: 8%Techniques of data collections: face to face interview

Variables surveyed

Quantity of fertilizers utilized per area, per major fruit trees cultivationNumber of holdings treated with fertilizer per major fruit trees cultivation

Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation

Use of plant protection products in specific crop4

General informationType of source: random sampling statistical surveySampling frame: FSS databaseSurvey unit: agricultural holdingScope or coverage: use of plant protection productsRappresentativity: 0,25%

Use of plant protection products in specific crop4

Reference period: crop yearFrequency of the survey: annualGeographic coverage: NUTS 1Non-response rate: 0% (non responses are replaced)Techniques of data collection: CATI- computer assisted telephone interviewing

Variables surveyedUtilized quantity of PPP, utilized per area and per cropNumber of treatments on PPP per specific cropArea of holding treated with PPPUtilized quantity of types of active substances per hectare

Use of plant protection products in specific crop

Suggestions

We could evaluate the possibility to do a new survey of fertilizers similar to survey

of PPP on specific crop.

Use of plant protection products in specific crop

Conclusion

Distribution of fertilizers for agricultural use

The main source in Italy for each operator connected with fertilizersIt can be considered a good example for other countries

Conclusion

FSS

We can evaluate the possibility to introduce some questions to collect information about fertilizers for each cultivationIt is necessary to estimate costs and benefits

Conclusion

Use of plant protection products and fertilizers in major fruit trees cultivation

It has been a positive experience It is necessary to estimate costs and benefits

Conclusion

Use of plant protection products in specific crop

We can evaluate the possibility to introduce questions about fertilizers to obtain information on specific cropIt is necessary to estimate costs and benefits

Future perspective of ISTAT

It is very important to continue and to develop the surveys on the distribution and use of fertilizersWe are evaluating the opportunity to introduce questions on fertilizers in other surveys (FSS, etc) It very important a financial contribution of UEWe need to evaluate a contemporaneous collection of fertilizers and PPP per crop

Future perspective of ISTAT

It can be useful a task-force in Eurostat

We could evaluate to consider the possibility for a brand new “Regulation on fertilizers statistics”