Above average rainfall this winter will reduce soil sulphur supply

S is vital for plant protein synthesis, boosting nitrogen use efficiency and supporting overall crop development. It behaves similarly in the soil to nitrogen (N). More rain over winter, means more N (as nitrate) and S (as sulphate) is leached from our soils before spring.  

In spring of 2024 after an another extremely wet winter Lancrop labs received 475 fresh grass samples, where a staggering 55% of samples were S deficient (<0.25%). A stark reminder that this excessive winter and early spring rainfall will have leached any residual available S. Also waterlogged soils will not be biologically active so organic S will not be mineralised into plant available sulphate. 

Farmers need to adjust nutrient management plans, including the timing of S fertilisation, to ensure crops have adequate access to this nutrient throughout the spring growing season. In 2024 we saw above average S responses, resulting in higher yielding crops and increased nitrogen use efficiency. 

First cut silage crops are likely to be very responsive to S applications this year, and it’s important that a fertiliser product with a N:S ratio of near 3:1 is used. Products such as YaraBela Axan, YaraVera Amidas and YaraMila Sulphur Cut fit this ratio perfectly on silage crops. The sulphur in these products is in sulphate form and is fully plant available, so it gets to work immediately.