Fj. Zhao et al., CHANGES IN THE SULFUR STATUS OF BRITISH WHEAT-GRAIN IN THE LAST DECADE, AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL-DISTRIBUTION, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 68(4), 1995, pp. 507-514
In 1992 and 1993, respectively, 400 and 393 wheat grain samples were c
ollected representatively from the major wheat-growing areas in Britai
n. Concentrations of S in the grain and the N:S ratios were determined
, and the variations due to variety and geographical distribution were
analysed. Grain S concentration ranged from 0.54 to 2.09, with a mean
of 1.43 mg g(-1) in 1992, and from 0.80 to 1.67, with a mean of 1.26
mg g(-1) in 1993. The ranges of grain N:S ratio were 13.3-29.6, with a
mean of 15.8 in 1992, and 11.5-25.9, mean 15.6 in 1993. Breadmaking v
arieties contained significantly greater N and S concentrations in the
grain than other varieties, but only small differences were found in
the N:S ratio in grain. In 1992 and 1993, 7 and 26% of the samples had
a S concentration below the critical value of 1.2 mg g(-1), respectiv
ely, whereas 10 and 7% of the samples had an N:S ratio greater than th
e critical value of 17. In both years 2.5% of the samples satisfied bo
th criteria of S deficiency. Comparison of the results of 1992-1993 wi
th those of 1981-1982 (Byers et al, J Sci Food Agric 38 (1987) 151-160
) showed a significant decrease in the S status of British wheat grain
during the 10-12 year period. The decrease can be attributed mainly t
o decreased S inputs, particularly from atmospheric deposition. The pa
ttern of geographical distribution of grain S concentrations was not a
s strong as it was in the 1982 survey. However, it was still apparent
that grain samples with small S concentrations were located mainly in
Scotland, northern England, and the west and southwest of England, whe
reas the largest S concentrations occurred mainly in the areas near to
or down-wind of the industrial conurbations of central England.