Agronomy advice

How much is not spreading sulphur costing you ?

Many farming practices for good reason are rooted in tradition and when it comes to buying fertiliser, farmers continue to buy what they have always bought. But if not spreading sulphur on grassland is costing you over £100/ha should this practice continue ?


How much is not spreading sulphur costing you ?
How much is not spreading sulphur costing you ?

Sulphur containing fertiliser grades are too often dismissed as they command a small premium over the same grade without sulphur. However, the evidence is such that sulphur is now recommended by all the independent farm advisory bodies in the UK, including the AHDB in England, IBERS in Wales, and the SRUC in Scotland and AFBI in Northern Ireland.

We need sulphur applications now because in the past it came in sufficient quantities in our rain. Now, annually the rain provides less than 5kg SO3/ha. 

Plain and simply sulphur helps nitrogen work better, and when nitrogen works better it improves grass growth rates but also the composition of the grass. For example, if we grow 1,000 kg more dry matter per ha just by using a fertiliser with sulphur, then this has had the effect of improving nitrogen use efficiency. There is an extra 20 kg of nitrogen removed in this 1,000 kg of dry matter which means there is less nitrate in the soil available for leaching which could potentially end up in our rivers. This is a win-win for the farmer and the environment. 

Valuing the cost effectiveness of using sulphur this season 

Yara commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland last year (2017) to look at the role of sulphur on grassland. AFBI carried out these field trials at two different sites in Northern Ireland. 

The soils at Hillsborough and Loughgall were characterised as a clay loam and a sandy clay loam respectively. 

The overall dry matter (DM) yield was achieved over 6 cuts. A total nitrogen rate of 204 kg/ha was used for each treatment, with the YaraBela Nutri Booster supplying a total of 41 kg SO3/ha of sulphur.

Sulphur applications resulted in an extra 750 kg DM/ha

Effect of sulphur on dry matter yield - Hillsborough trial site

At the Hillsborough trial site the treatment including sulphur yielded 11.3 tonnes compared to 10.9 tonnes dry matter per ha without sulphur

Effect of sulphur on dry matter yield - Loughall trial site

At the Loughgall trial site the treatment including sulphur yielded an extra 1.1 tonnes dry matter per ha

What is this extra 750 kg dry matter worth?

The cost of growing this extra 750kg of dry matter was £15 per ha, based on the value of YaraBela CAN and YaraBela Nutri Booster.

Comparing the value of the extra dry matter to feed wheat @ £138/tonne and Hi-Pro Soya @ £305/tonne, with a grazing utilisation of 85% then this 750 kg of DM is worth £113. 

A very healthy £7 return for every £1 spent on sulphur.

 

Recommended Yara fertilisers for grassland

YaraBela NUTRI BOOSTER
25% N + 5% SO3, Na and Se - Unique compound fertiliser for use on grass based on nitrate nitrogen and sulphur coupled with selenium. test
YaraMila STOCK BOOSTER S
25-5-5 +5% SO3 + Na and Se - A compound prilled NPKS fertiliser containing selenate for use on grassland to supplement selenium levels.
YaraMila EXTRAGRASS
27-5-5 + 6% SO3 - Compound granular fertiliser with sulphur with the ideal ratio for grazed or mown swards to get the grass off to a good start early in the season.
YaraMila 52 S
20.6-8.2-11.6 +6.5%SO3 - Compound NPKS fertiliser containing Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash and Sulphur suitable for all crops.
YaraMila NK SULPHUR
22-0-14 + 7.5% SO3 - Compound fertiliser suitable for high phosphate, low potash soils deficient in sulphur.
See all fertilisers choices
Grow the future | Grassland Sulphur Grow the future | Grassland Sulphur

Spreading nitrogen and sulphur at the same time means more grass

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

Find out more

Grassland agronomy advice

The latest grassland fertiliser and nutrition advice from the Yara agronomists.

Cows in a field
Spring Grassland Fertiliser Update
How are your plans looking for the grass season ahead? The focus in January should be on planning for spring grazing and 1st cut silage.
Two cows in a field
To Graze or not to Graze Winter Swards
A two year study by AFBI in Northern Ireland by Dr Aimee Craig and Dr Conrad Ferris was set up to examine the impact on silage quality and subsequent cow performance of using sheep to graze winter swards.
Two farmers walking through spring barley field
Planning for Spring Success
As the saying goes: A failure to plan is planning to fail! This is true at any time but especially so at the moment, with input prices so high, utility bills increasing and an uncertain economic climate, planning for things that you can control is absolutely essential, and it doesn’t need to be complicated.
Farmer on a quad bike driving within grassland field
Benefit from applying lime to grassland now
It might surprise you to know that two thirds of all grassland soil samples received by the lab have a soil pH which is too low, but it's never too late to correct this with lime
Farmer in a field with cows in the background
Grassland Fertiliser advice for September
With above average grass growth rates across the country, the focus should be on making the most of this grass as we enter September.
Farmer feeding hay to cows in a farm
Reduce the fire risk around hay
In hot, dry conditions farmers face increased fire risk, especially across the first six weeks after hay baling.
See all Grassland and Forage Advice

Find Yara advice on all grassland nutrition issues

Cows in a field
15 January, 2024

Spring Grassland Fertiliser Update

How are your plans looking for the grass season ahead? The focus in January should be on planning for spring grazing and 1st cut silage.

Two cows in a field
02 November, 2023

To Graze or not to Graze Winter Swards

A two year study by AFBI in Northern Ireland by Dr Aimee Craig and Dr Conrad Ferris was set up to examine the impact on silage quality and subsequent cow performance of using sheep to graze winter swards.

cow grazing in a field
21 February, 2023

Trial Results: Effect of selenium enriched fertiliser on grazing cows

Yara’s Booster range was formulated to not only promote healthy grass growth but by adding selenium into the mix, support healthier livestock as well.

See all grassland nutrition articles

Read about improving nutrient efficiency

Grow the future | Spring arable nutrition |
Spring barley needs to gain momentum quickly
Spring barley nutrition is no different to any other crop but growth happens a lot quicker so the focus has to be on maintaining its momentum and ensuring nutrients are readily available when needed.
Grow the future | Cereal micronutrients | Agronomists in wheat field
Cereal micronutrients can prevent yield losses
If you supply your cereal crops with exactly the right micronutrients where and when they are needed this will prevent yield losses or quality reduction due to deficiencies.
Grow the future | Oilseed micronutrients | Agronomist and farmer in oilseed field
Oilseed micronutrients consistently increase yields
Supplying your oilseed crops with exactly the right micronutrients where and when they are needed has been shown to consistently increase yields.
Grow the future | Nitrogen and sulphur fertiliser| Agronomists in wheat field
Applying nitrogen and sulphur together just makes sense
Combining nitrogen and sulphur together increases nitrogen use efficiency so means more for your money with less wastage.
Grow the future | Compound NPKS fertiliser Agronomists in wheat field
A compound fertiliser is so much better than a blend
When you apply nutrients using a true compound fertiliser you avoid the risk of segregation and uneven distribution that you often get with a blend.
Grow the future | Phosphate and potssium | Agronomists in wheat field
When it comes to P and K doing nothing is not an option
When it comes to P and K doing nothing is not an option. Potassium and phosphate are two essential plant nutrients with the plant requiring a consistent supply from the soil during the critical spring growth period.
Grow the future | Spring arable nutrition |
Spring nutrition must keep crop momentum moving
When winter cereals begin spring growth keeping that momentum going should be the main focus of the spring nutrition strategy
Grow the future | Silage fertiliser | Farmer inspecting grass
Avoid compromising your silage with poor nutrition
Don't risk compromising the yield or quality of your silage by cutting corners with your fertiliser programme
Grow the future | Grassland sulphur management | Farmer inspecting grass
Managing grassland sulphur delivers impressive results
Managing grassland sulphur doesn’t need to mean big changes. Simply switching fertilisers can deliver impressive results.
Grow the future | Forage maize foliar nutrition | Farmers watching maize harvest
Paying more attention to forage maize nutrition pays off
Paying more attention to forage maize foliar nutrition, particularly phosphate and zinc will improve crop establishment and early growth resulting in higher yield and better quality forage.
Grow the future | Potato nutrition
Better nutrition improves potato yield and quality
Making sure your potatoes are fully supplied with all the nutrients they require is the best way to improve crop yield and tuber quality
Grow the future | Soil testing and tissue analysis
Soil and leaf testing avoids wasting money on fertilisers
The best way to avoid wasting money on fertiliser is through soil testing and tissue analysis and then understanding what the results mean.
Grow the future | Grassland selenium fertilisers | Farmer inspecting grass
Preventing selenium deficiency avoids reduced productivity
Grazing animals have a requirement for selenium so it is important sufficient is present in the grass to meet the animals' needs to prevent selenium deficiency problems.