383-6 Sulfur Management In the UK and Europe.



Wednesday, October 19, 2011: 11:10 AM
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 214B, Concourse Level

Fangjie Zhao, Soil Science Department, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and Steve McGrath, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, HERTFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM
Sulfur deposition from the atmosphere has decreased dramatically since the early 1970s in Western Europe. Consequently, the S balance has tilted toward deficit in many agricultural systems in recent decades. Changes in the S balance will be illustrated using a >160 years long-term experiment. Sulfur is now a limiting nutrient for Brassica crops, cereals and grassland in many areas of the UK and other European countries. Yield responses to S have been evaluated for different crops. Where deficiency is likely to occur, the benefit to cost ratio of applying S fertilizers is very favourable based on yield response alone. In addition, S deficiency adversely impacts on the quality of crops. The S supply influences the composition of gluten proteins in wheat grain and consequently the bread-making quality. Sulfur-deficient wheat grain accumulates high levels of the free amino acid asparagine, which is a precursor of the carcinogen acrylamide formed during baking. Sulfur deficiency affects malting quality of barley by influencing the enzymatic hydrolysis of starch, and the flavour. In the UK, S fertilizers are applied to over 60% and 40% of the crop areas for canola and cereals, respectively. Recommendations for S fertilization are based on a simple model that includes the data for atmospheric deposition, soil, climatic and crop S requirement, and by using plant tissue analysis.
See more from this Division: S08 Nutrient Management & Soil & Plant Analysis
See more from this Session: Symposium--Can Sulfur Still Be Ignored? Crop Responses, New Management Strategies, and Improved Methods for Assessing Sulfur Needs