The effect of time of application and placement of sulphur fertilizer sources on yield of wheat, canola, and barley

Abstract Most experiments with elemental S (So) have shown that spring application does not benefit annual crops, and it should be applied at least one year in advance so the prills are dispersed and oxidized to the sulphate (SO4) state. Because preliminary work had indicated that placement of S prills appeared to affect prill dispersion and oxidation, a series of experiments were conducted to determine how placement and time of application affect yields of canola (Brassica napus L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Response of crops to S was variable and generally, similar for both So and SO4 sources. Response to So was better when there was shallow incorporation of the prills in the spring by harrows before planting or the placement of the prills in a shallow band (2.5 cm depth) and then planting the seed with the hoe‐opener the next day in the same track of the fertilizer band. Elemental S increased the yield of wheat as much as 0.46 t/ha and canola, 0.99 t/ha. Prill dispe...