TURF & SULFUR - Simplot

1 turf & SULFURS ulfur has been recognized as one of the many elementsrequired for plant growth for nearly 130 years. Deficienciesof this plant nutrient were identified as early as 1900 oncertain soils in the Pacific Northwestern states. In Canada,this deficiency was first discovered in 1927 on some soilsin Alberta. In spite of these early records of the need forsulfur, it has received only limited attention until in SULFUR as a plant nutrient has increased greatlyin the past few years, partly because reports of sulfurdeficiency throughout the world are becoming morefrequent and extensive. The main reasons for greateroccurrence of SULFUR deficiencies are:1. Increased use of high analysis, essentially SULFUR -free Decreased use of SULFUR as a fungicide and Increased crop yields which require larger amountsof all of the essential plant Increased consumption of low SULFUR fuels and in-creased emphasis on control of air Increased ability to identify soils low in s role in the is required by the plant for:1.

2 The synthesis of the aminoacids, cystine, cysteine,methionine and hence forprotein The activation of certainproteolytic enzymes such asthe The synthesis of certainvitamins (biotin and thiamin orvitamin B1), glutathione andof coenzyme The formation of the glucosideoils found in onions, garlic andcruciferous The formation of certaindisulphide linkages which areassociated with the structuralcharacteristics of concentration of phydril.(-SH) groups in plant tissueshas also been shown to berelated to increased coldresistance in some was recently shown to bepresent in the nitrogenaseenzyme system which isinvolved in the fixation ofnitrogen by certain situations free-livingnitrogen-fixing organisms in thesoil and the nodule bacteria inlegumes will make significantcontributions to the nitrogensupply and SULFUR requirementsare closely linked because bothare required for protein containsabout 1% S and 17% N.

3 The needfor SULFUR fertilization oftendepends upon the supply of N andother nutrients and fertilization athigh rates with these elementsmay induce a SULFUR is SULFUR important?Greening of TurfIn the absence of SULFUR , turfgrassexhibits a chlorosis that frequentlyoccurs as an intense yellow color. Inmild cases one may think of nitrogendeficiency or even iron the positive side, we find thatsulfur enhances color, density andgrowth. SULFUR helps nitrogen (N) tobe used efficiently. There seems tobe a direct relationship with turfgrass fertilized with thehigher quantities of nitrogen showincreased response to SULFUR . It hasbeen reported that when 12 poundsof nitrogen are used, there is arequirement for 8 pounds ofpotassium oxide and pounds net effects of adequate SULFUR incombination with N, P and K areseveral:1.

4 Better decomposition of residues(thatch).2. Stimulation of soil Improved color, density andcomposition of Greater drought Improved winter reduces disease In studies by Goss,Gould and others in the PacificNorthwest reveal some veryconvincing reasons for applyingsulfur along with nitrogen,phosphorus and SULFUR reduced Fusariumpatch in turfgrass by 86%.This property of controlling diseasereally should cause no great surprisebecause we have known this aboutsulfur for a long time. The surprisingthing is that so many of us haveforgotten it or have not put theknowledge to turfgrass disease that hasbeen checked and controlled to alarge degree with SULFUR isOphiobolus Merion Kentucky Bluegrass isshort of SULFUR , it is much moresusceptible to powdery fungus in warm-seasongrasses in Florida was reduced bythe use of SULFUR in fertilizers.

5 Thismay be a bit hard for many to believe,but data from the Pacific showsthat adequate SULFUR prevented Poaannua from infesting bentgrass the same time the blue-greenalgae was reduced some of the advantagesfound in using adequate SULFUR comefrom the fact that turf is renderedmore vigorous, an obvious sign ofhealthier grass. Healthy turf resistsinjuries and recovers faster wheninjury occurs.