Ammonium Sulfate for Canola in Southeastern Australia

Evaluation of ammonium sulfate as a S source for rainfed wheat and canola cropping systems.

IPNI-2010-AUS-03

Overview

Most growers recognize that canola has a much higher demand for sulfur than cereals, with the oilseed having almost three times the grain S concentration compared to wheat. To meet this demand, many growers use low rates of gypsum (calcium sulfate) applied before sowing, and then meeting the N demand with a combination of at-sowing and topdressed urea. Read more

Year of initiation:2010

Year of completion:2013

Map:

Articles

07 Aug 2015	Supplying sulfur in cropping systems Rob Norton & Elaina VanderMark
01 Sep 2014	Sulfur deficiency in canola Taken at Bealiba, Victoria
30 Jul 2013	Sulfur - Known knowns, known unknowns Presentation at Agronomy Community Meetings
23 Aug 2012	Best practice management of nitrogen and sulfur for canola and cereals – the Mallee.
21 Jun 2011	Balanced nutrition in Brassica napus production with emphasis on S fertilizer requirements Paper presented at the 13th International Rapeseed Congress, June, 2011.
13 Feb 2011	What sulphur source should I use? Discussion of the various sources of S for crops and pastures.
30 Aug 2010	Addressing sulphur needs in-crop Sulphur is an important part of a balanced crop nutrition program and this is a summary of options for in-crop S application.
08 Apr 2010	Sulphur for canola in 2010 Canola growers are advised to check to make sure S does not limit yields in 2010
01 Feb 2010	Ammonium Sulfate as a specialty fertilizer for canola Research update to investigate better ways in meet the S and N needs of canola.

Interpretive Summary

2013

In alkaline-calcareous soils of southeastern Australia (Calcarosols), the main N fertilizer sources are either urea or ammonium sulfate (AS) in cereal and oilseed cropping systems. The relatively low N recovery in these systems is most likely associated with ammonia volatilization. In addition, S from AS may be immobilized by chemical precipitation with Ca, which may result in S deficiency, thereby reducing the N recovery further.

2012

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The importance of N and S in canola cropping systems is well established. However, in the past, urea and gypsum were the commonly used strategies for N and S nutrition. We hypothesized that the use of ammonium sulphate (AS) along with urea may enhance both N and S efficiencies in a Calcarosol growing canola. We conducted a field experiment to investigate the effects of combining urea and AS on canola growth, yield and nutrient uptake at Walpeup in southeastern Australia.

Updates & Reports

2010	Project Description

Sulfur deficiency in canola

Project Leader

Rob Norton, International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI)

Project Cooperators

MT Khan, The University of Melbourne
Robert Edis, The University of Melbourne
Deli Chen, The University of Melbourne
Charlie Walker, Incitec Pivot Ltd.