Performance of Urea Enhanced with Sulfur.

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 SO₄^2- 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).