Purpose
To determine the existence of sulphur deficiency and yield response to sulphur fertilization across a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions in Ontario for corn, winter wheat and soybeans following their typical rotational crops in each of 3 years. The project also aims to develop a sulphur soil test for the province.
Methods
The on-farm strip trials were a simple with and without sulphur trial that were replicated three times in a grower’s field. The treatment recommendations for each crop are as follows:
- Treatments
- Winter Wheat:
- Check - No S: 0 lbs S; additional 17.5 lbs/ac N to account for N in AMS)
- With Sulphur: 20 lbs S (83 lbs of dry AMS)
- Corn:
- Check - No S: 0 lbs S, additional 17.5 lbs/ac N to account for N in AMS)
- With Sulphur: 20 lbs S (83 lbs of dry AMS)
- Soybean:
- Check - No S: 0 lbs, additional 17.5 lbs/ac N to account for N in AMS)
- 63 lbs of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate
- With Sulphur: 20 lbs (83 lbs of dry AMS)
- Check - No S: 0 lbs, additional 17.5 lbs/ac N to account for N in AMS)
- Winter Wheat:
- 3 replications minimum: field length strips (minimum 200 m), randomized• 3 replications minimum: field length strips (minimum 200 m), randomized
- Timing of sulphur application:
- Wheat: spring applied, with nitrogen
- Corn: pre-plant or no later than traditional side-dress timing (V5)
- Soybeans: before or after planting
The on-farm trials were located in Bornholm, Arkona, Sombra, Merlin, Winchester, Stayner, and Thorndale.
The small plot trials were set up in corn, soybean and wheat with the following treatments at the Elora Research Station:
- 0 kg S/ha sulphate of potash
- 10 kg S/ha sulphate of potash
- 20 kg S/ha sulphate of potash
- 30 kg S/ha sulphate of potash
- 40 kg S/ha sulphate of potash
Results
Table 1: 2018 winter wheat yield response to sulphur at various locations across Ontario.
Figure 1: Winter Yield Response to Sulphur Application at the Elora Research Station.
Figure 2: Corn Yield Response to Sulphur Application at the Elora Research Station.
Table 2: 2018 Soybean Yield Response to Sulphur at Various Locations Across Ontario.
Figure 3: Ammonium Sulphate (AMS) Applied Broadcast at 24 lbs/ac vs no Sulphur Applied.
Table 3: 2018 Soybean Yield Response to Sulphur at Thorndale, Ontario.
Figure 4: Soybean Yield Response to Sulphur Application at the Elora Research Station.
Summary
- There was no response seen in soybeans at Elora, Thorndale or Winchester. There was a response noted in Arkona, Bornholm (Titus), Elora (AMS), and Merlin but the response was not significant. There was a significant response seen in Bornholm (SP12PX3), but it is unknown if this was due to additional N or S.
- There was no response observed in corn.2. There was no response observed in corn.
- There was also no response seen in winter wheat in Elora or Sombra although there was a non-significant response observed in Stayner.
This is the first year of this research project; therefore, single year data should be interpreted with caution. The project will be conducted for another two years so if you are interested in participating please contact Joanna Follings at
joanna.follings@ontario.ca.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Grain Farmers of Ontario and the OMAFRA/UofG Partnership. This project was conducted by Dr. John Lauzon, Alex Sanders, Peter Zwart, Horst Bohner, Jake Munroe, Ben Rosser, Joanna Follings and a number of grower cooperators. Thank you to Corteva Agrisciences for providing the Thorndale site trial data.
Project Contacts
For further information on this project please contact Joanna Follings, Cereals Specialist, OMAFRA, joanna.follings@ontario.ca.