By Scout Nelson
Nebraska has joined an international research collaboration focused on understanding sulfur use and deficiencies in major crop systems around the world. Sulfur is an essential plant nutrient, and growing evidence suggests that shortages may be limiting crop yields in many regions.
The initiative brings together the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the University of Colorado Boulder, the International Fertilizer Association, and The Sulphur Institute. The two-year project will collect and analyze global data on sulfur availability, fertilizer use, and crop demand to better understand where deficiencies exist and how severe they may be.
By working with research partners across multiple continents, the project aims to help countries measure sulfur shortages and develop improved nutrient management strategies. This work supports higher crop productivity while also reducing unnecessary fertilizer use, which can lower environmental risks in regions where nutrients are applied in excess.
“This collaborative project will provide essential information to improve crop production through better sulfur management and fertilizer recommendation,” said Patricio Grassini, professor of agronomy and horticulture at Nebraska and one of the project’s principal investigators. The project will ultimately benefit “a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, policymakers and the private sector.”
Researchers involved in the initiative note that sulfur deficiencies are becoming more common due to several changes in agriculture. These include reduced atmospheric sulfur deposition, cleaner fertilizers with lower sulfur content, higher yielding crops with greater nutrient demand, and declining soil organic matter.
That combination of factors “could result in a situation where the soil cannot meet the sulfur required by crops, requiring the addition of fertilizers containing this essential nutrient,” said Ron Olson, senior agronomist at The Sulphur Institute.
The project will use multiple approaches to diagnose sulfur deficiencies, including soil and plant testing, nutrient balance studies, and sulfur omission trials. It will focus on major cropping systems across North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe. The team will also complete a global assessment of sulfur fertilizer use and balances, filling a major knowledge gap in crop nutrition research.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-eugenesergeev
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