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. 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.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Ewald Schnug and Dir. & Prof. Dr. Silvia Haneklaus, Federal Agricultural Research Center (FAL), Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Bundesallee 50, D-38116 Braunschweig, E-Mail: pb@fal.de
or:
Dr. Kerr Walker, Crop & Soil Research SAC, Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn
Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, Scotland, E-Mail:k.walker@ab.sac.ac.uk
http://idw-online.de/pages/de/news131644 - deutschsprachige Version der Pressemitteilung
Photo 1: Scientist rating fungal infections in an autumn oilseed rape crop with severe sulphur defic ...
photo: Schnug
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Photo 2: Close-up of sulphur deficiency symptoms of oilseed rape in autumn
photo: Schnug
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Criteria of this press release:
Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
transregional, national
Research results
English
Photo 1: Scientist rating fungal infections in an autumn oilseed rape crop with severe sulphur defic ...
photo: Schnug
None
Photo 2: Close-up of sulphur deficiency symptoms of oilseed rape in autumn
photo: Schnug
None
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