The nitrogen (N) content of fertilisers sold in 2022 was 14% lower than in 2021 at 343,193 tonnes (See Table 1).
The phosphorus (P) content of fertilisers sold in 2022 was down 26% on 2021 at 34,240 tonnes (See Table 1).
Total fertiliser sales fell by 18% in 2022 to 1.4 million tonnes (See Table 2).
In the crop year 2022, 55% of fertiliser sales took place in the three months from January to March 2022 (See Table 3).
Lime sales increased by 4% in 2022 to 1.4 million tonnes, the largest quantity of any year from 2000 to 2022 (See Table 4).
The nitrogen content of fertilisers sold in Ireland was 407,598 tonnes in 2000. It fell to its lowest level of the period 2000-2022 in 2011 at 295,795 tonnes, while it was highest in 2018 at 408,495 tonnes. In 2022 there were 343,193 tonnes of nitrogen in fertilisers sold in Ireland, a decrease of 14% on 2021.
Phosphorus content was at its highest level of the period 2000-2022 in 2000 at 49,267 tonnes and was lowest in 2009 at 20,231 tonnes. In 2022 there were 34,240 tonnes of phosphorus in fertilisers sold in Ireland. This was a fall of 26% compared with 2021. There were 93,614 tonnes of potassium in fertilisers sold in Ireland in 2022. See Figure 1 and Table 1.
Fertiliser sales were at their highest of the time period 2000-2022 in 2000 at 1.7 million tonnes. 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 (see Figure 2 and Table 2).
Data on total fertiliser sales and on the nutrient content of fertiliser sales refer to the crop year from the beginning of October until the end of September each year. In the crop year from 1st October 2021 to 30th September 2022, 4% of fertiliser sales took place between October and December, 55% of sales took place between January and March, 22% were in April to June and 20% of fertiliser sales occurred between July and September. See Figure 3 and Table 3.
Lime is a soil conditioner which is used to regulate the acidity of soil. Applying lime to soil leads to carbon dioxide emissions due to the carbon content of the lime. However, as soil acidity is a factor in fertiliser efficiency, applying lime to soil can reduce requirements for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers. This can result in a reduction in pollution, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions arising from nitrogen-containing fertilisers. Lime sales were at their highest of the period 2000-2022 in 2022 at 1.4 million tonnes. This was an increase of 4% on 2021, which in turn had shown an increase of 50% on 2020 (see Figure 4 and Table 4).
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (14 June 2023) released Fertiliser Sales 2022.
Commenting on the release, Clare O'Hara, Statistician in the Environment and Climate Division of the CSO, said: "This release from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) contains data on fertiliser sales from 2000 to 2022. Fertilisers are added to soil to provide crops with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients enhance crop production but can also be lost from agricultural soil to groundwater, surface water and air, contributing to environmental pollution.
In 2022 total fertiliser sales decreased by 18% to 1.4 million tonnes. Nitrogen content was down 14% at 343,193 tonnes, and phosphorus content fell by 26% to 34,240 tonnes. Lime sales increased by 4% to 1.4 million tonnes, which is the highest in the period 2000-2022.
Quarterly sales data can give an indication of the time of year of greatest fertiliser use. Each year from 2015 to 2022, at least 75% of fertiliser sales took place between January and June, with only 2%-4% occurring in October to December. In 2022, 55% of fertiliser sales were in January to March, 22% were in April to June, and 20% were in July to September. Loss of nutrients to the environment is affected by the amount of rainfall at the time of fertiliser application."