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Improving agronomic effectiveness of elemental sulfur to increase productivity in sulfur-deficient soils

OAR@ICRISAT

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/12489/
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agj2.21458?casa_token=G4UoAGP1sBAAAAAA%3AOUMyrAnX1RbZz82VKmv7EZz_20vWssg58zS0DnFF7LyuhGNcS9CTDYgR489ZJN2Pbe_B96F4OXQAm2dy
https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21458
 
Title Improving agronomic effectiveness of elemental sulfur to increase productivity in sulfur-deficient soils
 
Creator Boubakry, C
Agyin-Birikorang, S
Adu-Gyamfi, R
Chambers, R A
Tindjina, I
Angzenaa, A B
 
Subject Soil
Soil Science
 
Description Elemental sulfur (ES), a byproduct of oil and gas processing, could be an alternate sulfur (S) fertilizer source for crop production if its bioavailability is improved. Increasing the specific surface of ES by reducing its particle size can accelerate ES oxidation to enhance its bioavailability. In field trials at six locations across three countries: two each in the United States, Ghana, and Mali, we determined the agronomic effectiveness of micronized ES (MES). Specific objectives were to quantify (i) corn (Zea mays L.) productivity, (ii) S recovery, and (iii) residual soil S concentration; following MES application, compared to ammonium sulfate (AS), a commercially available sulfate fertilizer, at four application rates—(i) locally recommended sulfur application rate (SR), (ii) 50%_SR, (iii) 75%_SR, and (iv) 125%_SR—and a control where no S was applied. Averaged across all sites and in the three growing seasons, AS at 50%_SR increased corn yield by ≤8% relative to control. Increasing to 75%_SR, SR, and 125%_SR resulted in 12%, 26%, and 28% yield increases, respectively. Applying MES at 50%_SR increased yield by ≤6%, and at 75%_SR, yield increased by ≤26%. Increasing the S application rate to SR and 125%_SR resulted in marginal yield increases. The combined data suggest that MES can be applied at a reduced rate of 75_SR to achieve similar yields as AS applied at SR. We conclude that MES could be an efficient S fertilizer alternative. However, economic analysis is needed to determine the potential profitability of using MES fertilizer products for crop production.
 
Publisher Wiley
 
Date 2023-12-30
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights cc_attribution
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/12489/1/Agronomy%20Journal_115_3131%E2%80%933143_2023.pdf
Boubakry, C and Agyin-Birikorang, S and Adu-Gyamfi, R and Chambers, R A and Tindjina, I and Angzenaa, A B (2023) Improving agronomic effectiveness of elemental sulfur to increase productivity in sulfur-deficient soils. Agronomy Journal, 115 (6). pp. 3131-3143. ISSN 1435-0645