New figures on fertiliser usage on Irish farms have confirmed that a key target in the Climate Action Plan for agriculture has been reached six years ahead of schedule.
According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), total artificial fertiliser sales last year decreased by 18% to 1.1 million tonnes. That follows another 18% reduction recorded in 2022.
Under the Climate Action Plan, the maximum limit for the use of chemical nitrogen was set at 300,000 tonnes per annum by 2030, but today’s figures show usage is already down to 281,000 tonnes.
Agricultural advisory authority Teagasc previously said the reduction in fertiliser use is due to a combination of changed practices and higher prices.
The CSO also cited higher prices as being behind the usage reduction.
Fertiliser sales in Ireland were just over 1.7 million tonnes in 2000, the highest of the time period from 2000 to 2023.
They were at their lowest in 2009 at 1.2 million tonnes before reaching 1.7 million tonnes again in 2018 and in 2021.
This was followed by an 18% decrease to 1.4 million tonnes in 2022 and a further 18% reduction to 1.1 million tonnes in 2023.
In 2023, nitrogen content was down 18% at 280,569 tonnes and phosphorus content fell by 10% to 30,762 tonnes.
Lime sales were down by 27% to 1.0 million tonnes in 2023.
This compared with lime sales of 1.4 million tonnes in 2022, the highest in the period of 2000-2023.
In 2023, 50% of fertiliser sales were in April to June while 25% were in January to March.
Loss of nutrients to the environment is affected by the amount of rainfall at the time of fertiliser application.
