Summary

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 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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