Not always, but always
sooner! Sulphur deficiency in autumn affects health of oilseed rape!
The old crop just left the field when the new one
gives already concern: sulphur (S)-deficiency may show up in winter
sown oilseed rape in autumn yet (photos). Since 1980 severe
S-deficiency symptoms can be found in agricultural crops all over
Northern Europe, but usually not before spring time.
Photo 1: Scientist rating fungal infections in an autumn
oilseed rape crop with severe sulphur deficiency
photo: Schnug
Photo 2: Close-up of sulphur deficiency symptoms of oilseed
rape in autumn
photo: Schnug
Characteristic for S-deficiency in oilseed
rape are plants appearing light green, particularly in back light (photo
1). Typical is also a marbling of the leaves, whereby the regions
along the veins remain dark green and the areas in-between appear
yellowish (photo 2). S-deficient plants are irregularly clustered
within a field. The clusters are usually on light textured soil, that
means areas without access to shallow groundwater, or on compacted
soils. The very early appearance of severe S-deficiency in oilseed
rape reveals the depletion of plant available S sources in sub-soils
together with high amounts of plant available nitrogen. A high
nitrogen supply promotes the development of S-deficiency symptoms.
S-deficiency that strikes the crop already before winter diminishes
the vitality of the plants and their natural resistance against
diseases. Scientists at the Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil
Science of the Federal Research Centre in Braunschweig, Germany (FAL)
and the Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen (SAC) found in
S-deficient oilseed rape plants significant lower concentrations of
S-containing metabolic compounds like for instance glutathione which
are involved in resistance mechanisms, and an increased susceptibility
against stem rot (Leptosphaeria maculans). The scientist recommend the
immediate fertilization of about 20-30 hg/ha S to oilseed rape crops
on sites with a high risk of S-deficiency for strengthening the vigour
of the plants.
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