Boosting Brassicas with Polysulphate
Research by two Indian scientists has proved that Polysulphate fertiliser provides what brassica crops need to help achieve peak performance.
It is widely understood that sulphur is an important plant macronutrient. Sulphur is associated with high yield and good quality, particularly in brassicas. It is also one of the main nutrients in Polysulphate, our fertiliser made from polyhalite, the natural mineral consisting of hydrated sulphate of potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).
Polysulphate Pushes Production Up
Researchers in India set out to test the bio efficacy of Polysulphate on the performance of two major Brassica oleracea crops: cauliflower and cabbage. G.C. Satisha and A.N. Ganeshamurthy, Principal Scientists with ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research published their findings on Polysulphate, and it is good news for Brassica growers.
Brassicas, such as cauliflower and cabbage, are big in the Indian diet and important cash crops to many Indian farmers. The research found that sulphur application gave rise to significantly increased yield and quality of the two crops. According to the Indian research results, “the highest yields of cabbage and cauliflower, 32.8 and 39.5% more than the control, respectively, were obtained with 100% and 75% of the recommended N-P-K and S doses, respectively, delivered through Polysulphate.”
Understanding Interconnected Plant Nutrition
Whilst it is useful to focus on one plant nutrient, such as sulphur, it is also important to recognise the important and productive inter-relationship between all the nutrients present in Polysulphate.
This is something the Indian research report reveals. The potassium contained in Polysulphate fertiliser enhanced sulphur uptake, while in turn, the sulphur appeared to promote phosphorus and calcium uptake.
With our Polysulphate, the activity – or bio efficacy as the researchers refer to it – of this remarkable, naturally occurring, mined mineral fertiliser is more than the sum of its parts. And is why, again and again, it proves to be such a powerful tool producing remarkable results whether that be for Brassicas or other crops.
Read the full paper Bioefficacy of Polyhalite Application on Yield and Quality of Cabbage and Cauliflower published in the e-ifc by the International Potash Institute.