Northern crops responding well

14 December 2001




Northern crops responding well

to sulphur use

NORTHERN arable farmers could reap increasingly significant benefits from routine sulphur use. But responses can vary greatly, even between adjacent sites.

"Our trials in the south have shown an increasing response to sulphur applications now that power stations have cleaned up their acts and this trend seems to be moving north," Arable Research Centres northern manager, Dave Robinson told a recent meeting in Driffield.

Sulphur applications are most beneficial on light to medium soils, with oilseed rape showing an average 8% yield increase to 20-30kg/ha of sulphur applied in ARCs northern trials. "That would make a routine application of sulphur worthwhile."

Light land cereal growers could also find it cost-effective to apply sulphur over the next few seasons, he said. "We have not seen a steady upward trend in response levels in cereals in the past, but there is evidence that a 10-15kg/ha application can bring a 4-5% yield increase in cereals on the lighter soils."

But ARC work shows huge variations in deficiency between nearby sites. Much depends on how much organic manure is being applied, soils receiving some being less likely to suffer deficiency.

With ammonium sulphate prices almost doubling in recent years, growers might be tempted to look for an alternative source of sulphur. But using a combined product could bring its own problems, warned Mr Robinson.

"Finding an ammonium nitrate product containing high levels of sulphur can be cheaper. But with a combined product it is important to get the ratio of nitrogen to sulphur correct. The best time to apply sulphur is early spring, but at that point the crop will not benefit from too much nitrogen, which encourages rapid growth." &#42


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