Sulfur (S) deficiency has become more common in Indiana with reduction in atmospheric deposition of S arising from coal-fired power plants. Recent trials have shown consistent large corn yield increases to S fertilization at some locations, while at other locations there was no response to S. Sulfur deficiency was expected and occurred on a loam soil with 1-2% organic matter, but S deficiency and large consistent yield responses also occurred on a silty clay loam soil with 2-3% organic matter. Where S was needed, the lowest amount of S sidedressed (7.5 to 15 pounds per acre) was sufficient to maximize yield. Read the details at https://ag.purdue.edu/agry/documents/CornSulfur.pdf.
Sulfur deficient corn in the foreground and corn sidedressed with 10 pounds of S per acre in the background. (Photo Credit: R. L. Nielsen, 2019)
