Why Fertilise with Sulphur? Essential Insights for Crop Health
The nitrogen requirement in plants is high, on average 20 times higher than the requirement for sulphur. However, without adequate sulphur, crop growth lags behind. Applying sulphur through fertilisers is essential. In this article, we delve into the world of sulphur and its vital functions in plants.
The Role of Sulphur in Plants
Like nitrogen, sulphur plays a crucial role in protein formation. The sulphur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine are indispensable for protein synthesis. Approximately 70% of the organic sulphur in plants is found in proteins that contain these amino acids, contributing to the stability of proteins.
In addition to proteins, sulphur is found in lipids and enzymes that are vital for plant function. Finally, sulphur is essential for the formation of chlorophyll, which is responsible for good crop production.
Nitrogen Fixation
As mentioned above, nitrogen and sulphur are both present in key amino acids for the plant. Nitrogen supports the uptake of sulphur by the plant. During the absorption of nitrogen, sulphur moves into the plant alongside it.
A notable collaboration between nitrogen and sulphur is nitrogen fixation in legumes. Nodules form on these roots where Rhizobium bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen for the plant. Insufficient sulphur leads to fewer and smaller root nodules, which hinders the nitrogen fixation process.
Plant Resilience
Sulphur also plays a role in plant resilience. Plants can protect themselves against pests by producing secondary metabolites, a type of toxin. Adequate sulphur enables the production of these metabolites. A well-known example is glucosinolates, a secondary metabolite that increases plant resistance to fungi and insects due to its toxic effects. Glucosinolates are found in many crops, especially cruciferous vegetables such as cabbages, mustard, rapeseed, and radish. The rotting leaves of these plants have a strong smell caused by the high concentration of sulphur.
Sulphur Deficiency
A sulphur deficiency is identified by light-coloured leaves, similar to a nitrogen deficiency. However, with sulphur deficiency, it is mainly the young leaves that exhibit symptoms, whereas with nitrogen deficiency, it is the older leaves that are affected. Fertilisation experiments without sulphur show that plants are significantly smaller compared to those with sulphur fertilisation. These results highlight the importance of adequate sulphur supply for your crops.
Synergy Between Sulphur and Nitrogen
OCI Nitrogen’s latest addition to nitrogen-sulphur fertilisers is Dynamon. The ideal nitrogen-sulphur fertiliser combines the benefits of an optimal nitrogen-sulphur ratio of 4 to 1 with a balanced ratio of 50% ammonium and 50% nitrate as a nitrogen source. This synergy between sulphur and nitrogen ensures that Dynamon provides sufficient sulphur to crops until harvest time. This combination delivers high-yield, top-quality crops.
Using Dynamon:
- Increases nitrogen efficiency,
- Provides nutrients directly available to the crop,
- Reduces ammonia loss,
- Delivers targeted sulphur supply,
- Offers an equal distribution of nitrogen and sulphur,
- Ensures an even spreading pattern over large areas, more than 50 meters, thanks to the hard, round granules,
- Results in optimal high-quality harvests.
Dynamon is recognisable by its yellow granules.
References
- 30 Questions and Answers about Sulphur. René Schils, Alterra Wageningen UR. 2016.
- Nutritional Disorders of Plants: Development, Visual and Analytical Diagnosis. Ed. Werner Bergmann.
- Working on Soil Resilience. R. van den Broek, W. van den Berg, J. Lamers, W.J.M. Cuijpers, A.J.T.M. Hospers-Brands, and S. Smits. 2014
- Possible Causes of Declining Yield of White Clover (Trifolium repens L.) Over Time. H.C. de Boer and N. van Eekeren. 2017
- www.handboekbodemenbemesting.nl