Corn Crop Uptake Of Sulfur
Sulfur is a major nutrient required in crop development.
Sulfur functions in the plant are:
- Structural component of protein and peptides
- Active in the conversion of inorganic N into protein
- Promotes nodule formation in legumes
- Structural component of various enzymes
- Structural component of the compound give characteristic odors and flavors to mustard, onion, and garlic
Question is, what stage of crop development does sulfur uptake happen?
The following charts demonstrate that sulfur uptake usually occurs after the crop has started growing. Sulfur uptake follows nitrogen uptake very closely in most crops. For example in corn, sulfur and nitrogen uptake doesn’t increase until after V4 stage of development.
Source: Corn – Heard, J. 2006. Nutrient accumulation and partitioning by grain corn in Manitoba. In: Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings. A. Schlegel (ed). Vol. 11 March 7-8, 2006. Denver, CO. p. 180-185; Small Grain – Malhi, S.S., A.M. Johnston, J.J. Schoenau, Z.H. Wang, and C.L. Vera. 2006. Seasonal biomass accumulation and nutrient uptake of wheat, barley and oat on a Black Chernozem soil in SK. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 86: 1005-1014. DOI: 10.4141/PO5-116; Alfalfa – Pumphrey, F.V, and D.P. Moore, 1965. Sulfur and Nitrogen Content of Alfalfa Herbage During Growth. Agronomy Journal. 57:237-239.; Potato – Heard, J. 2004. Nutrient uptake and partitioning by potatoes in Manitoba. In Proc. of 2004 Manitoba Agronomist Conf.
For sulfur to be taken up by the crop, it needs to be in the sulfate form. The issue is sulfate-sulfur can be lost to the environment like nitrate-nitrogen. If a rain event happens after application, sulfate-sulfur can be leached below the rooting zone to groundwater or subsurface drainage tile. Even irrigation after application can cause this to happen.
Smart Nutrition MAP+MST is over 90% elemental sulfur is not immediately susceptible to leaching. The sulfur is “micronized” which allows for quicker oxidation and availability to the crop compared to other elemental sulfur sources.
The sulfur in Smart Nutrition MAP+MST is “slow release” and provides sulfur to the crop when it needs it most to help maximize yield.
