Blue bags grow better crops
Sulphur Product Choices
AN based products are the most effective way to deliver
the vital Sulphur your crop requires. Annual applications
of Sulphur are now routine, but are you getting the best
results from your Sulphur investment?
Sulphur is vital for the effective utilisation of Nitrogen and an essential nutrient to ensure optimum yield
and quality. Sulphur deposition has reduced by more than 90% since the 1970’s and a Sulphur
inclusive fertiliser plan is a must for balanced crop nutrition.
The most effective method to supply a Nitrogen and Sulphur hungry crop is to use a True Granular
Compound such as CF DoubleTop® or SingleTop® which contains N and S in each granule.
CF DoubleTop is an Ammonium Nitrate based fertiliser with Ammonium Sulphate combined into
the granule as the Sulphur source. DoubleTop is a Sulphur-rich compound containing 27N (30SO3)
and is the most popular of its type.
SingleTop 27N (12SO3), which contains Calcium Sulphate as its Sulphur source, offers a lower
Sulphur content for the flexible ‘little and often’ approach.
DoubleTop and SingleTop
True Granular Compounds contain readily available N and S in every granule.
Advantages of these CF products:
l A granulated product
l Made to a high specification in CF’s UK factory
l The correct ratio of N:S with every granule containing the same
ratio of Nitrogen to Sulphur
l Reliable and delivers consistent productivity and quality
Managed risk
l Even distribution of nutrients when spread
AN based so lower risk of
N losses.
l Accurate and consistent spread pattern to wider widths
Agronomically Efficient
l Lower level of Nitrogen volatilisation at spreading
l Immediately available Sulphur as Sulphate
RISK
Sulphur maintains quality and can increase yields by up to:
AN directly available to crop,
so minimal loss of N as Ammonia
= Higher crop N contents.
Reliable crop quality
RISK
10%
50%
100%
Winter Cereals
Spring Barley
Oilseed Rape
Higher grain protein.
Performance guaranteed when
following best practice advice.
Varying ratios of Sulphate
All Cereals – aim to apply 50kg SO3/ha
RISK
For Oilseed Rape – aim to apply between 60-90kg SO3/ha and for very deficient sites,
apply 112kg SO3/ha
Consistent grain protein.
A readily available source of S.
Blue bags grow better crops
Other product options
These are urea based S products and increase the risk of N loss to the atmosphere on application.
Urea + S
Granules
RISK
Increased risk
Inefficient
Volatilisation – N losses can
RISK
be on average 22% – only
3% with AN.
N not directly available to crop,
so could be lost as Ammonia
= lower crop N contents.
Bulk density
Reduced crop quality
Urea has a lower bulk density
than AN, meaning more
product is required.
With lower level of N potentially
available, there is a risk of a
lower quality crop.
Urea + S blended products
Urea + S Blend
Urea + S
Blends
DoubleTop
The blended urea S will separate out in the hopper
and spread unevenly. With urea and the Ammonium
Sulphate visually looking similar, the uneven
distribution is usually difficult to spot. However, a
poor spread will lead to crop striping and lower yields.
SingleTop
With N and S in each granule, the CF products supply
each plant with the correct ratio of N and S.
“
As a business we calibrate a number of machines to spread urea sulphur products, and this spring has been no
exception. Machines can easily be set up to spread, at first glance, an even pattern. The problem is that these urea
Sulphur products are a blend of urea and Ammonium Sulphate granules and they distribute differently across the bout
width. Ammonium Sulphate is a source of N and tends to be a similar colour to urea granules but that’s where the
similarity ends because the spreading characteristics are very different. Whilst in the calibration tubes the total quantity
looks correct, the proportion of urea to AS can be very different, meaning an over or under supply of nutrients which
undoubtedly contributes to crop striping. This is an inherent problem with blended fertilisers.
“
Rob Foxall, SCS.
How does product choice impact on yield?
Yield response to Sulphur in WOSR
4.5
CF Fertilisers has researched the best approach to applying Sulphur.
The trials opposite clearly show the yield benefit where Sulphur was
applied as DoubleTop (27N 30SO3) compared to a Urea Sulphur blend
(38N 19S03). Both products supplied the same amount of Nitrogen with
Sulphur at 112kg SO3/ha (90 units/ac).
+0.3t/ha
3.5
Yield t/ha
DoubleTop improved yield by 0.3t/ha
4
3
Data – AGRI/CF Fertilisers
Did you know that the type of Sulphur product also
affects yield potential?
2.5
2
1.5
1
Urea + N
Blends
0.5
0
38N 19SO3
www.cffertilisers.co.uk
CF Fertilisers UK Limited, Ince, Chester, Cheshire CH2 4LB
© CF Fertilisers UK Limited 2016
CF Fertilisers UK Ltd assumes no liability for reliance on, or any errors or omissions in, the information provided in this document. For a precise farm specific recommendation please contact your FACTS Qualified Adviser.
27N 3OSO3
CF
®
®