In‐Season Application of Nitrogen and Sulfur in Winter Wheat

Abstract

Core Ideas Decreased atmospheric deposition has led to increased S consumption in winter wheat. Sulfur did not increase yield or grain N concentration at any site. Use of recommended soil testing guides are encouraged. Decreased atmospheric S deposition in the past 20 yr has led to increased S fertilizer consumption in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Producers often apply S without any soil test information. Experiments were conducted at Lahoma, Lake Carl Blackwell, and Perkins, OK (2011–2013) to assess the effect of N and S applied preplant and foliar on grain yield and grain N for winter wheat. In 2011–2012, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) was applied preplant at rates of 40 and 80 kg N ha−1 additionally; UAN and urea‐triazone (NSURE) were foliar‐applied at rates of 10 and 20 kg N ha−1. Sulfur was foliar‐applied as gypsum (CaSO4⋅2H2O) at 6 kg S ha−1. In 2013, trials were altered to apply 40 kg N ha−1 as UAN preplant, and 20 kg N ha−1 foliar‐applied. Gypsum rates were adjusted at 0, 3, and 6 kg S ha−1 preplant, and S (MAX‐IN‐S) at 3 and 6 kg S ha−1 was foliar‐applied. Sulfur did not increase grain yield or grain N concentration at any site. The interaction between foliar S and N and preplant S and N was not significant. Sulfur fertilizer application is less likely to benefit this region unless low levels of soil test S are identified before planting. Use of recommended soil‐testing guides are encouraged. Although S applications are encouraged commercially, no response was observed in these trials, and all were on sites where soil organic carbon was low (<8.5 g kg−1), where the possibility of seeing S deficiency was greater.