When it comes to chemical fertilizer – less is more, new study says

Farmers can use far less chemical fertilizer — which can be expensive and harmful to the environment — and maintain high crop yields, according to a new study.
The findings of a new, long-term academic study may lay some farmers’ fears to rest: farming regeneratively, or farming in ways that benefits soil, water and air quality, doesn’t have to come at the expense of crop yield.

A team of researchers spanning from the United Kingdom to Africa compared data from 30 different long-term experimental farm plots in order to compare “ecological intensification” practices against the use of chemical fertilizers. The study ultimately found that when certain practices are implemented — like diversifying crop rotations and adding manure or compost to soil — the need for chemical fertilizer lessens.

“You don't have to sacrifice yields for your farm practices to be more sustainable,” said study lead author Chloe MacLaren.