Nitrogen (N Total Nutrients) - Consumption

Fertilizer consumption refers to the application of nutrients in terms of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), and potash (K2O) consumed in agriculture by a country. All figures are given in Tonnes (T) of plant nutrients (N total nutrients). Consumption (C) = Production (P) + Imports (M) - Exports (X) - Non-Fertilizer use (NF); P + M – X – NF = C When data is not known for either fertilizer production or consumption, then the other items are used to derive the residual data. When this occurs, the data is labelled as apparent (e.g. apparent production). Apparent Consumption AC = P + M – (NF + X); Apparent consumption = production + imports - (non-fertilizer use + exports). Apparent consumption figures are developed based on the underlying assumption that supply equals consumption. However, actual apparent consumption may be underestimated due to the following: ( Non-fertilizer use assumed to be zero in the absence of data; Stocks of fertilizer assumed to be zero or stable; Country imports or exports of fertilizer data not available and assumed to be zero).