John Bruton
Question:148 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reasons for, and consequences if any, of the decline in usage of phosphorous as a fertiliser over the past 20 years in Ireland.
Written Answers. - Use of Phosporous.
During the 1960s my Department operated a subsidy on phosphate fertilisers in order to offset a phosphate deficiency which was general at that time. That objective had been amply achieved by 1972-73, when the subsidy was ended. Subsequently and following a sharp increase in world fertiliser prices resulting from the oil crisis of the early seventies, there was some decrease in usage, but in 1978-79 sales recovered considerably and have remained reasonably stable since then.
Recent fertiliser use surveys indicate that tillage crops are generally treated adequately with phosphorous. About 75 per cent of grassland is also satisfactory but the application of maintenance quantities is required to maintain fertility. The remaining 25 per cent of grassland has insufficient levels of phosphorous for optimum grass production and requires substantial applications of phosphorous to build up soil fertility. Farmers should have their land regularly tested and should replace any nutrient deficiencies, including phosphorous, in order to maintain fertility levels.