Plant Tissue Analysis for Detecting B and S Deficiencies In Canola.

Canola (Brassica napus) production in the Southern Great Plains has increased due to its benefits as a winter rotational crop for winter wheat and market value.  However, limited research exists about sulfur (S) and boron (B) requirements of canola in this region, especially using tissue analysis as a diagnostic toll.  The objectives of this presentation is to review canola tissue testing and interpretation, and to evaluate the effect of two forms of S and four application rates of 0, 11.2, 22.4, and 33.6 kg ha^-1 on tissue S concentrations and the yield of canola seed.  Field experiments were conducted from 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 growing seasons in Lahoma and Perkins, Oklahoma. The two canola cultivars used were Hyclass 154 and DKW 47-15, and the two sources of S were elemental sulfur and ammonium sulfate at both sites. The experiment with 16 treatments was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Surface (0-15cm) and subsurface (15-46cm) soil samples were collected and analyzed for plant available nutrients before planting.  There were no statistical yield differences between S sources and among S rates for either canola variety during both growing seasons most likely due to the high soil sulfate-S. Plant tissue testing confirmed S and B were adequate.