News in brief: According to a report by DEFRA, UK farmers achieved increased major crop yields despite significant reductions in fertiliser use, which rose in price due to the conflict in Eastern Europe. The data revealed that key crops saw reduced fertiliser use and improved yields, leading to arguments for a return to mixed farming methods to enhance environmental efficiency.
Farmers in the UK recorded increase in major crop yields despite significant reductions in fertiliser use, according to a report published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (DEFRA).
The report covered fertiliser use and impact on crops in the UK through 2022. It notes that the price of the input rose by almost three times during the year after Russia invaded Ukraine, going from £233 a ton in 2020 to £766 a ton in 2022.
Artificial fertilisers are by products of natural gas, which saw cuts in global supply because of the conflict in Eastern Europe and led to dwindling use by farmers.
The data from the report revealed that key crops like wheat, barley, oilseed rape and sugar beet saw less fertiliser use by an average of 27% compared with the 2010-2019 average. At the same time, crop yields rose to 2.4% above average compared with same period. Conversely, a 10% increase in fertiliser use in the cultivation of potatoes saw to an 8.6% reduction in yield.
DEFRA added that pressure from agriculture accounted for 40% of pollution in inland water bodies. It also estimated that 50% of nitrate pollution, 25% of phosphorus in the water environment and 75% of sediment pollution came from agriculture.
Experts conclude that the data shows how reduced fertiliser usage can bring big benefits to the business and beyond. Others opine that recent gas crisis have forced farmers to become more environmentally efficient.
The move away from artificial fertilisation has led to a return to mixed farming methods among farmers. This includes livestock farming, which is considered the best way of cycling nutrients into soil, as farmers can decrease artificial fertiliser usage without actually it impacting their production.
