Researchers have studied the extent to which countries influence their nitrogen pollution and crop yields.
The study will help governments decrease their nitrogen pollution and increase crop yields.
Nitrogen fertilizers increase crop yield, but are terribly for the environment, biodiversity and our health. In many countries, researchers found, increasing nitrogen fertilizer use only marginally increased crop yield but drastically increased nitrogen pollution.
So, many places could reduce fertilizer use without seeing yield reductions.
Researchers suggest increasing cost or introducing tax where fertilizer is used a lot.
Reduce the price or subsidize it where it's used less.
Promote ways that increase efficiency of nitrogen use.
Farmers using less nitrogen and thus getting lower yields could receive financial compensation from the state.
Utilize precision agriculture - that is, apply fertilizer only where it's actually needed.
You increase nitrogen efficiency and reduce environmental problems without decreasing output.
Importantly, reduce food waste to reduce environmental problems.
Original article:
Governments can curb over-fertilisation
Original study:
Countries Influence the Trade- Off between Crop Yields and Nitrogen Pollution.