sulfur deficiency in cotton and maybe corn.

Question

Put out 30-0-0-2 this year with side dress. Still seems like we are seeing yellow spot. Does it take longer for it to get to the plan? Am I missing something? Seeing it with both corn and cotton. Used volterra nitrogen stabiliser for the first time this year also

Answer

Here is the corn with possible sulfur deficiency

Answer

Robert, the picture of the corn sure looks like it is S deficiency, harder to tell on the cotton but it almost looks like the chlorotic leaves are the lower leaves. Sulfur is an immobile nutrient in the plant so deficiencies appear first on the newer leaves.

Just curious if you've had S deficiencies in the past or have soil or tissue samples showing you're low?

As long as you applied a soluble S source, it should become available for your plant timely, however a few things could be slowing the uptake of your applied sulfur. Acid soils will tie up your sulfur, soil compaction (or anything that reduces root exploration) can also impact S uptake. Sulfur moves moves to the roots by mass flow, so if you happen to have dry conditions it will reduce how fast the S will move to the roots via water. If you continue to see the S deficiency to new leaves, you could consider a foliar application of S.

Answer

On the cotton, yes we’ve had a tissue sample done on those spots last year and that’s what we were told. Those spots are on the sides of ridges so they are usually drier and never yield as well, but recently they have gotten much worse: that’s why we went with the 30-0-0-2 with our side dress. The corn is more wide spread. But as it’s reached tassel it’s lessened a lot so maybe the sulfur is starting to reach it

Answer

Hopefully that's the case and the Sulfur is becoming more available to the plant. A suggestion if you're continuing to see these S deficiencies show up, applying elemental sulfur in the fall can be a cost effective way to help elevate your S levels. Elemental Sulfur is much like applying inorganic N, when put on in the fall it gives it time to mineralize and become available the next spring, it's also usually cheaper than the soluble S you'll find in mixes like your 30-0-02. Just something to consider

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sulfur deficiency in cotton and maybe corn.

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