How to grow the best quality roses?

Taken up as ionic Sulphate SO4-, Sulphur links with Nitrogen to build protein and promote canopy development.

Function

While Nitrogen is a growth promoter, Sulphur is a growth regulator, effectively balancing the manufacture of sugars and proteins in leaf tissue with the demand from these materials throughout the plant. As such, Sulphur plays a central role in maintaining green leaf area, growth rates and delaying senescence. Low Sulphur status reduces Nitrogen metabolism, leaf expansion and plant development.

Pink roses ready for export - These roses, grown in Ecuador, benefited from applications of OMEX Sulphomex and OMEX SW8

Symptoms
Similar in appearance to Nitrogen stress, low Sulphur status induces a pale yellow chlorosis of the entire plant. Plants produce smaller leaves with lower chlorophyll and slower growth rates. Low Sulphur status can lead to elevated leaf concentrations of free Nitrogen, which can increase insect and disease pressure.

Significance

As mobility within the soil is very high, Sulphur demand is not often met without supplementation. Low Sulphur status will restrict plant response to Nitrogen, influencing growth rates, senescence and disease resistance. Sulphur stress is often worse in cold, wet, compacted soils.

Actions

Check soil status and correct if necessary. Apply Sulphur with Nitrogen fertiliser. Foliar feed Sulphur during times of rapid growth, peak stress or high disease pressure.

Rose nursery in Ecuador

OMEX Solutions

Omex Sulphomex is a clear solution containing water soluble sulphur and nitrogen. Crops will respond immediately to applications of Omex Sulphomex and it will be rapidly absorbed by the plant.

Omex Sulphomex will supply the sulphur requirements for all crops and its use will avoid the unpleasant dust and caking characteristics of many elemental products

Omex SW8 is a silicon based wetter, designed to give enhanced uptake of foliar nutrients. In addition, when used at higher rates, it also supplies silicon to the crop. This can have a secondary effect of deterrence, which may affect a variety of pests such as aphids, red spider mite, thrips and whitefly.

Red roses ready for export

The silicon-oxygen bonds are hydrophobic and the organic clusters are hydrophilic, creating a superior wetting agent, which spreads quickly to cover a large surface area – greater than conventional surfactants. Microscopic examination reveals a high degree of stomatal flooding may also occur which can extend into the intercellular spaces.

For more information:
Omex Agrifluids
Saddlebow Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE34 3JA, United Kingdom
T: +44 1553 817500
F: +44 1553 817501
agrifluids@omex.com
www.omex.com