British crop yields rise despite cut in fertiliser use, research finds

A tractor spreading fertiliser. Fertiliser use in agriculture is a major cause of pollution. Photograph: Jon Lewis/Alamy

Britain’s farmers increased their yields of major crops last year despite significant reductions in fertiliser use, according to research.

Making artificial fertilisers relies on natural gas, the price of which rose sharply last year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fertiliser prices more than tripled, from £233 a tonne in 2020 to £766 a tonne in 2022, which farmers say led to a reduction in their use.