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Factors Influencing the Availability of Sulfur Fertilizers to Alfalfa and Corn¹

ABSTRACT

Field and greenhouse experiments indicated that 8-mesh elemental S was frequently inferior to sulfate forms of S for alfalfa and corn production on S deficient, acid, sandy soils in Nebraska. There was a marked increase in utilization of S from the elemental form during the second year compared with the first year after application.

Sulfur flour mixed with the soil was as effective as gypsum either mixed with the soil or side-banded at planting time for supplying S to young corn plants in the greenhouse. A sidebanded application of the S at planting time was much less effective than the same material mixed with the soil unless a small amount of CaCO₃ was also applied in the band. Sulfur utilization by young corn plants was linearly related to approximate specific surface of S particles obtained from 8-mesh material. The smallest particles, < 0.05 mm. in diameter, were slightly less effective than either S flour or gypsum applied at the same rate. The largest particles, 2.0 to 1.0 mm. in diameter, were relatively ineffective even at high rates of application. Superiority of S flour over 8-mesh material, at least under some conditions, appears to be associated largely with relative sizes of particles in the two materials.

¹ Contribution from the Dept. of Agronomy, Nebraska Agr. Exp. Sta. Lincoln. Paper No. 1442 Journal Series, Presented before Div. IV, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Nov. 1961 at St. Louis, Mo. This investigation was supported by a grant from The Sulphur Institute, Washington, D. C.

² Formerly Assoc. Prof., Univ. of Nebraska, now Assoc. Soil Scientist, Dept. of Agronomy and Soil Science, Univ. of Hawaii; Research Assistant, on leave from Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Turkish Ministry of Agriculture, Ankara; Graduate Assistant; and Prof. of Agronomy (deceased).

Received for publication August 26, 1963. Accepted for publication March 3, 1964.