ICL Polysulphate fertiliser can help producers make significant productivity and environmental gains in their grassland management and take full advantage new sustainability initiatives, say crop nutrition specialists ICL.

Produced in the UK at Boulby Mine in North Yorkshire, Polysulphate is a naturally occurring multi nutrient fertiliser containing four essential nutrients; Sulphur (48% SO3), Potash (14% K2O), Calcium (17% CaO) and Magnesium (6% MgO).

What differentiates Polysulphate from other products is the prolonged release of the nutrients within it, making it a highly effective Sulphur source that helps boost Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) within the crop, explains ICL agronomist Scott Garnett.

"As a non-nitrogen source of sulphur it is ideal to maximise the Nitrogen produced from the growing use of legumes in grass mixes and reduce the dependency on mineral fertilisers.

"Extensive trials have shown Polysulphate to increase dry matter yields by over 10% as well as significantly improving the protein content of grass.

"This is largely the result of the prolonged release of the sulphate contained in Polysulphate driving up NUE so that full use of available nitrogen is made.

"Sulphur is also key in producing essential amino acids which are the building blocks of crude protein in the grass. Increasing the protein content in your grass can in turn help reduce the dependence on bought-in protein supplements.

"With sustainability initiatives encouraging greater use of nitrogen-fixing legumes in grassland whilst targeting overall reductions in nutrient use for grassland, Polysulphate can, therefore, deliver major benefits for dairy and livestock producers."

Not only does this mean they can produce more, better quality grass from less inputs, they can also do so in a way that is totally in line with the latest environmental schemes, so the whole food supply chain benefits, Scott Garnett says.

"As a natural mineral requiring minimal processing, Polysulphate also has the lowest carbon footprint of any fertiliser on the market and is also approved for use in organic grassland systems too."

For further information visit: www.icl-growingsolutions.uk