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use efficiency. However, their efficiency could be enhanced by application of these fertilizers
7-10 days before sowing of the crop in moist soil. Application of elemental sulphur is less
profitable for the farmers because of its high market price.

The requirement of sulfur in plants is very high in the initial stage of growth and therefore the
entire sulphur dose should be applied and mixed into the soil during sowing. If this is not
possible for any reason, then its supply should be made before initiation of flowering. In case
of non-availability of soil test information, 0.50% sulphur solution should be sprayed 3-5
times at 7-10 days’ interval to mitigate Sulphur deficiency in standing crop.

Recommendations based on sulphur availability in soil
Soil testing has been found useful before sowing of seeds because deficiency of sulphur in
crops results in yellowing of new leaves. Sulphur fertilizer is recommended as per the level
available sulphur in soil based on soil test results, whose details are given in Table 2.

Table 2. Sulphur recommendation for different crops based on available sulphur in
soil

Available Level of Sulphur Expected yield Sulphur recommendation (kg/ha)
Sulphur fertility increase (%) Oil seed Pulse Cereal
(mg/kg) crops crops crops
≤7.5 Acute deficient 25-85 60 40 30-35
>7.5 to ≤15.0 Deficient 20-50 45 30 25
>15.0 to ≤ 22.5 Latent deficient 5-20 30 20 16.5
>22.5 to ≤30.0 Marginally sufficient 2-5 15 10 8.5
>30.0 to ≤ 40.0 Adequate 1-5 5 7.5 4.0
>40.0 High - - - -

On the basis of various studies, it is known that if the level of available sulphur in soil is
<7.5, 7.5-15.0, 15.0-22.5, 22.5-30.0, 30.0-40.0and >40 mg/kg, then the soils are classified
under the category of acute deficient, deficient, latent deficient, marginally sufficient,
adequate and high in available sulphur respectively. Sulphur recommendations for these soils
are 133, 100, 66, 33, 16.5 and 0% of recommended sulphur for maximizing crop production,
reduction in cost of fertilizer application and maintaining soil fertility.

Recommendations for sulphur application in crops and cropping systems

The recommendation of sulphur for predominant crops and cropping systems grown in
Madhya Pradesh is given in Table 3.

Table 3. Recommendation of sulphur for different crops and cropping systems

Crop Soil and crop based recommendation
Wheat 20 kg sulphur / ha before sowing
Soybean 30 kg sulphur / ha at the time of sowing