The N-P-K conversation – nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium – is the focus of most crop nutrient management discussions. But there’s another macronutrient that’s hitting the radar with greater frequency as farmers and agronomists pursue higher crop yields.
Sulphur is an essential nutrient required by all crops for optimum production, says Karl Wyant, director of agronomy for Nutrien Premium Fertilizer Technologies. As crop yields continue to increase and pollution controls reduce the availability of reduced atmospheric sulphur, farmers and agronomists need to consider whether enough of the nutrient is being made available to growing crops.
Wyant says farmers and agronomists can learn a lot about sulphur by just looking at the visual symptoms including yellowing, which is generally seen at the top part of the plant.
“That’s telling you that sulphur has a big role in chlorophyll, the pigment that takes all the sunshine and converts it into energy that a plant can use to build biomass, build yield, and build root systems,” notes Wyant. “When you don’t have this sulphur, you can’t make the chlorophyll and your plant is not as green.”
In this report from the Farm Progress Show at Boone, Iowa, Wyant looks at why higher-producing crops need more sulphur and how growers and agronomists can apply the 4Rs — right time, place, rate and source — to effectively address needs for the macronutrient.
Wyant shares how field scouting can help identify sulphur deficiencies and how growers can integrate these findings into crop planning and modify nutrient management plans to reflect sulphur needs.
He also looks at the role played by soil type and organic matter in sulphur availability and how micronized sulphur technology can be used to tackle deficiencies.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | All Podcasts
