Variation in Response to Sulfur Among Hard Red Spring Wheat Varieties.

Increased perception of deficiencies of S has increased the application of S fertilizer across Minnesota. A recent flag leaf tissue S concentration survey indicated differences among hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em thell.) varieties in their accumulation of S. Our objective of this study was to determine if the tissue survey data indicated differences in the response to S among varieties. Nine field trials were conducted across Minnesota from 2014 to 2016. Six field trials were conducted on medium to fine textured rain fed soils and there were on irrigated sandy soils. Treatments were a factorial combination of spring wheat variety and S fertilizer rate. Six spring wheat varieties were seeded at each location which were selected based on whether they were above average, average, or below average in the accumulation of S in leaf tissue. Sulfur was applied a (NH4)2SO4 after planting a rates of 0. 8.4, and 16.8 kg S ha-1. Flag leaf tissue samples collected at anthesis (Feekes 10.5) did not show any difference among varieties in the accumulation of S in contrast to findings by the tissue survey data. Grain yield and protein concentration were not increased by the application of S at the sites with medium to fine textured soils. Wheat grain yield and protein concentration were increased with the addition of sulfur at the irrigated sandy locations. Rate of sulfur required to maximize grain yield and protein concentration and the relative increase in grain yield and protein concentration from S fertilization varied by year for the locations with sandy soils. The data indicates that when deficient, the application of S fertilizer should be made regardless of the variety planted and that tissue S concentration provides no indication of a varieties response to S