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Grow the future

Farming is a way of life and is anything but predictable. That's why your farm must be efficient and resilient enough to grow crops both sustainably and profitably now and in the future.

Grassland sulphur management

Managing grassland sulphur doesn’t need to mean big changes. Simply switching fertilisers can deliver impressive results.

Adding sulphur makes better use of nitrogen

Applying fertilisers containing nitrogen and sulphur means the grass uses nitrogen more effectively, you get more kgs of dry matter per kg of nitrogen that you apply.

Small changes can make a big difference

Sulphur deficiency is not a new phenomenon. Sulphur levels in soil have been declining for years so we all know that it needs dealing with. So, what do you do to ensure your grassland doesn’t suffer from a lack of sulphur?

Do you think your soil has enough sulphur in it?
Do you rely on slurry to replenish sulphur levels?
Are you unconvinced of the importance of sulphur and therefore do nothing?

There are some easy solutions in dealing with sulphur deficiency:

If you’re unconvinced by the data, do a soil test to tell you exactly what your sulphur levels are.
Change your fertiliser to one that contains sulphur
Choose a good quality complex compound fertiliser, not a blend, to benefit from an even application of all nutrients
Apply little and often throughout the growing season to avoid leaching and ensure the sulphur is available when the grass needs it most.

How common is sulphur deficiency?

88%

of grassland soils are deficient in sulphur

85%

of arable soils are deficient in sulphur

Based on samples received at Yara Analytical services in 2019 85% of arable soils and 88% of grassland soils were deficient in sulphur

So why is sulphur so important for grassland

All plants including grass need sufficient levels of sulphur to be able to utilise nitrogen efficiently. Together, nitrogen and sulphur are vital building blocks for protein, so N and S should be applied at the same time.

Sulphur behaves in a very similar way to nitrogen in the soil, readily leaching in the sulphate form just as nitrates do therefore this should dictate that you’d treat it the same as nitrogen. You wouldn’t apply all your nitrogen in one go and expect it to fulfil the sward's requirement through the growing season, so why treat sulphur like this? Applying sulphur in one application means that there is a large potential for a lot of it to leach away through the soil profile and is then not available to the crop. Applications of sulphur little and often, as you would with your nitrogen, ensures that the grass has access to it throughout the growing season.

Another reason to apply sulphur little and often along with your nitrogen is that there is a very close relationship between the two nutrients. As mentioned, nitrogen can’t be taken up and utilised effectively by the grass unless there is a sufficient supply of sulphur present. With more and more emphasis being put on increasing nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) on-farm then this is one easy way to start to do that. Ensuring there is sufficient nitrogen and sulphur at each application means the two nutrients work together which is better for the grass, environment and your pocket.

What's the best way to apply sulphur to grassland?

Sulphur should always be applied at the same time as nitrogen

Sulphur should be applied 'little and often' through the season

Can you afford to ignore sulphur deficiency?

In financially challenging times it probably feels like an easy choice to cut back on the cost of inputs. But, that can be false economy. The saving made on sulphur, can cost you dearly in yield – up to 30% losses according to AFBI. Even looking at average sites, based on trials data applying sulphur can give an extra 10% yield

Whilst Yara would always encourage you to undertake soil sampling so that you apply a fertiliser appropriate to the needs of your land and crops, in the case of sulphur deficiency, it’s almost unnecessary. We know soil is sulphur deficient. Do you know the consequences of not dealing with that deficiency? It could cost you as much as €20/acre!

But there’s even more good news with including sulphur in with your nitrogen dressing: sulphur improves nitrogen use efficiency. In other words, investment in sulphur means your nitrogen investment goes further as well. And you’ll see less wastage to the environment…it’s a win-win!

How much is sulphur deficiency costing me?

Extra 10% yield

Applying sulphur will give you an extra 10% yield of grass

Extra tonne per acre

A 10% yield increase means an extra tonne of first cut silage per acre

Extra €20 per acre

At current prices, an extra tonne of silage per acre is worth €20

Recommended fertilisers

The following Booster range fertilisers are all enriched with selenium

YaraMila EXTRAGRASS

27-2.2-4.2 + 2.4% S - Compound granular NPKS fertiliser ideally suited to little and often application for Spring/Summer application to grassland for index maintenance and high recovery growth rates.

Where can I buy Yara fertilisers in Ireland?

Yara supply our branded fertilisers and crop nutrition products to the Irish market through a network of local merchants and co-ops Use our interactive map to locate your nearest suppliers.

Find a local supplier