Organic fertiliser boosts harvest yields amid escalating Middle East conflict

Sydney (ANTARA) - A study has found that replacing part of the synthetic nitrogen fertiliser with a small amount of organic inputs can improve soil quality, crop yields, and nutrient efficiency, as global supplies are disrupted due to tensions in the Middle East.

The study, led by the University of Western Australia (UWA), was conducted at a time when around 60 per cent of the global supply of urea-based nitrogen fertiliser passes through the Strait of Hormuz, where geopolitical disruptions are tightening supplies and increasing costs for Australian farmers, according to a UWA statement released on Thursday (30/4).

“Australian farmers are striving to use fertilisers efficiently to ensure economic growth and food security,” said Professor Kadambot Siddique from the UWA Institute of Agriculture.

The study, co-authored by Siddique and several international research partners from China, shows how adjusting fertilisation strategies with organic and inorganic materials can maximise agronomic, ecological, and economic outcomes.

The research team examined a winter wheat and summer maize rotation system based on different fertilisation strategies.

“Reducing synthetic nitrogen to less than 45 per cent along with the use of organic fertiliser can maintain productivity without increasing emissions,” Siddique stated.

The research team explained that optimising the organic-synthetic nitrogen balance can enhance fertiliser efficiency, improve soil quality, and reduce agricultural emissions, thereby offering a potential pathway for creating more resilient farming systems amid uncertain global supply conditions.