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

Fertiliser use on key crops down more than a quarter on 2010-19 average, while yields increased 2.4%

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 almost tripled, from 233 a tonne in 2020 to 766 a tonne in 2022, which farmers say led to a reduction in their use.