Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

2017 Annual Meeting | Oct. 22-25 | Tampa, FL

213-3 Performance of Urea Enhanced with Sulfur.

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Nutrient Management and Soil and Plant Analysis
See more from this Session: Nutrient Management and Soil and Plant Analysis General Oral I

Tuesday, October 24, 2017: 10:05 AM
Tampa Convention Center, Room 10

Upendra Singh, Office of Program, International Fertilizer Development Ctr., Muscle Shoals, AL, Deborah Hellums, Office of Programs, International Fertilizer Development Center, Muscle Shoals, AL, Wendie Bible, Analytical services Lab, Office of Programs, IFDC, Muscle Shoals, AL, Vaughn Henry, Soil and Plant Nutrition, Office of Programs, IFDC, Muscle Shoals, AL, Joaquin Sanabria, Soil and Plant Nutrition Division, Office of Programs, IFDC, Muscle Shoals, AL and Xinhua (Frank) Yin, Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Jackson, TN
Abstract:

Sulfur (S) is a secondary macronutrient required in amounts like phosphorus to support and sustain agricultural productivity. Plant-available SO4-S is prone to leaching in coarse-textured soils when applied as sulfate-S fertilizer. Availability of SO4-S to plants is also reduced by adsorption of SO4-S in most clay soils. Application of elemental S (ES) will reduce leaching losses and adsorption; however, the release of SO4-S to match plant demand may not be adequate. ES must be oxidized by micro-organisms to SO42- before it is an effective source of plant nutrition. Under field conditions, temperature, rainfall, tillage, and residue management affected the dispersion of ES fertilizer granules. Incubation studies of urea enhanced with ES conducted under laboratory and field conditions also showed that the method of application and the type of fertilizer strongly influenced S oxidation. The effect of ES and ammonium sulfate (AS) on NH3 volatilization loss following urea application was quantified. Field trial response of S on maize yield and nutrient uptake on application of urea with S is also presented. The following ES and SO4-S fertilizers were evaluated: commercial ES (88% S), AS (24% S), urea ammonium sulfate (5.5% S), micronized ES (95% S), urea enhanced with 13% ES, and urea enhanced with 13% S (ES and SO4-S).

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Nutrient Management and Soil and Plant Analysis
See more from this Session: Nutrient Management and Soil and Plant Analysis General Oral I