Summary

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Sulfur is an essential nutrient for crop production, often ranked behind only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in importance.

Increased removal due to higher crop yields — combined with reduced inputs from atmospheric deposition and other sources — have increased the prevalence of sulfur deficiencies.

This Crop Insights discusses sulfur requirements, deficiency symptoms, soil and plant testing and fertilization practices.

Sulfur deficiency in corn plantYellowing between leaf veins is a symptom of sulfur deficiency in corn.

· Sulfur is an essential nutrient for crop production, often ranked behind only nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in importance.
· Increased removal due to higher crop yields combined with reduced inputs from atmospheric deposition and other sources have increased the prevalence of sulfur deficiencies.
· Sandy and low organic matter soils are at greatest risk for sulfur deficiency.
· Sulfur is taken up by plants as sulfate, an anion that is mobile in the soil and subject to loss through leaching or volatilization, much like nitrate.
· Alfalfa and canola have high sulfur requirements and are more likely to respond to sulfur fertilizer, particularly on sandy soils.
· Corn and soybeans often do not respond to sulfur fertilizer, but yield responses can be substantial in cases where sulfur is deficient.

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