To apply Sulphur(S) fertiliser or not, that is the question facing grassland farmers today. Sulphur is an essential nutrient for grass growth and is closely associated with Nitrogen uptake and efficiency.
Sulphur use as a grassland fertiliser has declined dramatically in recent years. Like lime, it has become the forgotten fertiliser of Irish grassland soils.
Many grassland farmers tend to forget this essential element in their efforts to meet required levels of lime, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).
Even when there is adequate amounts of these grassland nutrients, S deficiency can lead to a reduction in the quantity and quality of the grass crop produced.
Importance of Sulphur
Sulphur is essential for the formation on amino acids, the building blocks for proteins which are needed for growth and development in plants and animals.
Again S is required to convert Nitrogen to plant dry matter. As grass grows, both S and Nitrogen are used together so a S deficiency will decrease nitrogen use efficiency and so reduce yield.
Thus, Sulphur is an important nutrient for grassland and is closely associated with Nitrogen uptake and efficiency.
Traditional Sources of Sulphur
In bygone times, Sulphur was freely available to grass plants from atmospheric depositions, due to smoke discharges from industrial complexes and domestic fires.
Depending on animal’s diet, slurry and farm yard manure are a valuable source of S, but it is present in a form that is mainly unavailable to the grass plant during the growing season (for example cattle slurry contains a total of 2.5units S/ 1,000 gallons of which 30% is available, therefore 0.8unit S/1,000 gallons available).
Chemical fertilisers containing Sulphur are now the main source of S for grassland fertilisation.
Symptoms of S Deficiency
There is no reliable soil test to determine S levels in soils. Sulphur levels can only be verified through herbage analysis.
Sulphur deficiency prevent grass plants from utilising Nitrogen, which causes the older leaves of the grass plant to turn light green or yellow (N deficiency) and reduces overall yield.
This will occur even where it is known adequate levels of lime, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium have been applied.
A Sulphur deficiency affects the younger plant leaves where leaves turn a pale yellow colour.
Soils Short on Sulphur
Sandy, lighter soils with low organic matter contents are generally more prone to Sulphur deficiency. Up to 30% of Irish soils are in this category and will benefit from S application.
Avoid excess S applications during the growing season as it may affect the trace element nutrition of both plants and animals.
Sulphur Fertiliser Advice
The response to S fertiliser increases as the rate of N fertiliser increases.
- Apply 20 kg/ha per or 16 units/acre year for grazed swards on a little and often approach starting in early spring.
- For silage swards apply 20 kg/ha or 16 units/acre of S per cut.
- Avoid over application of S as it will trigger a Copper/Selenium deficiency in livestock.
Sulphur Fertilisers
Sulphur can be applied as part of a fertiliser programme during the grass growing season as either straight or compound type fertilisers that contain S.
Common S fertilisers available on the Irish market are, 18-6-12 + 5% S, 27%N + 5%S, Ammonia Sulphate 21% N & 24% S etc.
Animal Health Implications
For permanent pasture apply the level of Sulphur recommended for either grazing (20kg S/ha/year) or silage swards (20kg S/ha/cut) to avoid any problems with induced trace element deficiency in grazing livestock as mentioned above.
For further information on soil & soil fertility, log onto the Teagasc soil website.
By Anthony O’Connor, Teagasc Adviser, Galway/Clare Regional Unit