New trials carried out by CF Fertilisers show Sulphur levels now accounts for around 30% of the variation in silage crude protein, explains the company’s Mark Garrett.

"At one site, where sulphur levels were restored to optimum, proteins increased by 7% and yields lifted by nearly 2.0t/ha and at another site a 1.0t dry matter/ha yield lift over the farm’s standard practice urea regime resulted whilst proteins increased by 5%."

"A few years ago we got 80kg/ha of Sulphate simply falling out of the sky every year, but this is now below 10kg/ha and in many areas below 5kg/ha."

A good policy for ensuring adequate Sulphur is applied to grassland is to start by checking your Nitrogen requirement, he says.

"Where slurry is used after both first and second cut the main requirement is for N or NS, with only a modest requirement for NPKS compounds.

"If the P index is high but the K index low, particularly if it’s on a lighter soil type, producers should consider using SingleTop (27N + 12SO3) in spring then KayNitro Sulphur (25-0-13 +7SO3) in the summer."

Review CF Fertilisers Grassland Research for more info.

*This article contains sponsored content and does not necessarily represent the views of The Scottish Farmer.