Sulfur as a means to reduce nitrate accumulation and improve statewide forage barley quality

Abstract

Nitrate accumulation in cereal forages is a serious concern for livestock health that can potentially be reduced through sulfur application, yet there has been limited research on this topic in the northern Great Plains. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the effect of sulfur on forage barley nitrate accumulation and quality in Montana. Field experiments were conducted across four Montana locations with varying soil types and climates. The study found that sulfur additions generally had little impact on yield, crude protei, and relative forage quality. The findings suggest that when Montana State University yield-based nitrogen rates of 35 lbs. ton -1 of forage are applied with 10 and 20 lbs. acre -1 rates of sulfur nitrate concentrations can be reduced without reductions in yield or nutritive quality. These findings could provide an additional proactive management strategy that is not solely reliant on nitrogen-management. Reductions seen over the two years of this study have the potential to reduce costs for producers incurred from both low-nitrate replacement hay and calf and lamb losses due to nitrate toxicity. Further research is needed to validate these results across a wider range of conditions.