Why Keg River Sulfur Is a Winner for Winter Wheat
Helping farmers maximize yield and quality, even under cold conditions.
Winter wheat growers know this unique crop brings many advantages to any rotation.
It is planted in the fall, then germinates and starts developing before lying largely dormant over the winter. Winter wheat then emerges early the following spring and continues growth before a late summer or fall harvest.
This schedule helps spread out or balance the farming workload. Winter wheat also delivers several productivity and sustainability benefits. It helps maintain topsoil over the winter. Its early maturity helps the crop out-compete weeds. The resulting harvested grain represents a high-value cash crop on par with or better than spring wheat – often with greater yield potential.
But how can farmers ensure they get the most productivity and related advantages from winter wheat?
One opportunity is to pair winter wheat plans with a bentonite elemental sulfur strategy.
“Winter wheat, known for its resilience and high yield potential, often thrives on targeted nutrient management,” says Brooke Bateman, an elemental sulfur expert with Keg River.
“One essential element for winter wheat’s success is sulfur, which plays a critical role in protein synthesis, enzyme function, and overall plant vigor.”
Hidden advantage for winter wheat
Winter wheat, like all crops, requires the right amount of sulfur – an essential macronutrient for crop production – to fully capture its growth potential, he explains.
“Wheat is not often associated with a high sulfur demand, but it does have a significant sulfur requirement that is important to achieving the best results. Sulfur deficiency will impact growth and yield in wheat, including winter wheat. Sulfur also plays an important role in nitrogen utilization. For these reasons and more, it’s important not to overlook sulfur in your winter wheat plans.”
Whether you are a fertilizer buyer, retailer, grower, or farm advisor, a clear trend helping to open the door to better winter wheat results is the rising use of high-quality, bentonite elemental sulfur – the type of sulfur that is the basis for all Keg River products, says Bateman.
Flexible options
Growers have options to apply bentonite elemental sulfur in the fall (which is becoming increasingly popular) or in early spring as part of effective strategies.
“The benefits of bentonite elemental sulfur are a particularly great fit for winter wheat because both the crop and this sulfur source have the same unique scheduling flexibility advantages,” says Bateman.
“Bentonite elemental sulfur offers a unique slow-release approach that can support winter wheat results over a long period. From a workload perspective, both seeding winter wheat and applying bentonite elemental sulfur can be done in the fall for added convenience and a more balanced annual schedule.”
Synergy for success
When applied to the field, bentonite elemental sulfur is gradually and naturally oxidized by soil microorganisms into sulfate, in a manner that is very targeted and beneficial to both soil and plants, Bateman explains.
Watch our animated video to see how bentonite elemental sulfur breaks down in the soil.
More science, commercial data, and expert opinion are building year after year, confirming that using a top-performing bentonite elemental sulfur is one of the most effective and affordable options to provide season-long sulfur.
This includes providing strong support in late fall and early spring to optimize winter wheat production.
Effective under cold conditions
“Sulfur applications can enhance winter wheat health, improve yield and quality, and support sustainable, high-performance cropping systems even under challenging conditions.”
Keg River products are a proven solution to fit a wide range of crop and soil conditions – with excellent degradability to provide an advantage in targeting, efficiency, and crop results, he says.
“It’s a strategy that can be applied every year to keep sulfur supplies topped up. On average, 30 to 40% of elemental sulfur applied will be converted per season. The rest is banked in the soil for future crops.”
New research is helping to pinpoint optimal application targets, to maintain an adequate sulfur supply for winter wheat and other crops in the rotation to reach their full potential.
For example, advisors now recommend that growers target fall applications for the following year’s sulfur needs. After initial large applications, growers typically can make smaller, crop-sequence-dependent applications as maintenance.
Blending with other nutrients for fall application is another approach rising in popularity, notes Bateman.
“Today more than ever, integrated nutrient management strategies are a critical part of successful farming. Elemental sulfur should be considered as an important tool in these strategies.”
Contact Keg River any time to speak with our experts and find the right fit for your farm!
