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Soil Testing for Sulfur Management: Importance and Recommendations

Learn about the significance of soil testing for sulfur management, Sulfur deficiency symptoms in plants, and how to improve yields with proper sulfur application. Find out about soil sulfate levels, plant tissue levels, and related studies from 2005-2006 to optimize sulfur use in crop production.

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Soil Testing for Sulfur Management: Importance and Recommendations

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  1. David H. Hardy Section-Chief, Soil Testing Agronomic Division, NCDA&CS Overview of S Management & Related Usefulness of Soil Testing SERA 6 Meeting June 21, 2011

  2. Ordinary superPO4-2 (0-20-0) not used 12% S Higher yields via varieties and management = more S demand Cleaner air due to air quality regulation Increased Importance of Today

  3. Sulfate Wet Deposition TrendsNADP database - current eastern NC estimate (wet + dry deposition: approx 8 lb S/ac/yr)

  4. IPNI 2010 Soil Summary

  5. Subsoil where topsoil not managed 68 ppm S Subsoil where topsoil managed 138 ppm S Subsoil S Reserves Hardy MS thesis, 1983

  6. Sulfur Deficiency Symptoms Sulfur Deficiency

  7. Sulfur Deficiency Symptoms Sulfur Deficiency

  8. Plants are yellow and stunted.

  9. Soil Sulfur – Corn Yellow Green corn: S-I = 30 n = 37, mean = 23

  10. Plant Tissue Levels • Yellow corn • 0.14% S • N:S = 26 • Green corn • 0.18% S • N:S = 22

  11. S Studies 2005 & 2006 • Validate plant response to soil S levels using M3 for both wheat and corn • Responsive and nonresponsive site • Based on surface M3 = 12 ppm • S source- pelletized gypsum • S rates- 0, 11, 22, 45 kg ha-1 • Applied broadcast after planting for corn • Split for wheat at two higher rates

  12. S Studies 2005 & 2006 • Soil samples at study initiation and V6 • Depth A: 0 to 10 cm- NT; 0 to 15 cm- CT • Depth B: 10 to 20 cm- NT; 15 to 30 cm- CT • Plant tissue at V6 and VT • Yield

  13. Hyde Co, Armstrong Farms, muck, 2005(only significant response was in V-6 plant tissue S)

  14. a ab ab b Edgecombe-2, 2005 • Soil S • 0 – 9 10 – 10 20 – 11 40 –15

  15. Greene, 2005 a a a a • Soil S • 0 – 11 10 – 13 20 – 13 40 –18

  16. Bladen Co., 2006 a a a b • Soil S • 0 – 10 10 – 10 20 – 11 40 –10

  17. S Studies 2005 & 2006 Overview • 2005, 1 of the 2 predicted sites responded • Greene Co. data is bothersome • 2006, 1 in 5 predicted sites responded • Weed problems, Organic soil may have mineralized S…?? • Plant nutrition improved @ V6 on both responsive and nonresponsive sites

  18. Recommendation??Similar Quandary as Nitrogen • Highly leachable as nitrate but subsoil S • Mineralization / immobilization issue • However, possibly overlooked, unlike N • Easy to acquire value from ICP, unlike N

  19. Current S Recommendations Soil critical level: 12 ppm = 25 S-I 15 to 25 lb per acre of S depending on soil class Know your soils Consider S fertilizer if 18+” surface sand Plant tissue sample

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