April ideal for sulphur application
April ideal for sulphur application
APRIL, at or before GS32 (second node), is the most rewarding time to apply sulphur to breadmaking wheat, according to a new HGCA topic sheet*.
Most soils, especially chalks and sands, store very little S, it says. And with deficiency spreading in the UK, and many wheat crops going short, growers are advised to use more sensitive indicator crops like oilseed rape to help pinpoint the problem.
Flour from S-deficient wheat has poor breadmaking quality and yields may also be reduced.
Previous rejection from a gluten test at mill intake can help assess the risk in current wheats, and 20-30kg S/ha as sulphate (50-70kg SO3/ha) applied to counter it if necessary.
Growers should also consider using the new malate/sulphate ratio rapid deficiency test on leaves, the HGCA suggests. It costs about £12/sample but could prevent losses of £35-140/ha.
* Topic Sheet 54 Managing sulphur needs of breadmaking wheats is free from the HGCA (020-7520 3945). *