Role of Sulphur Fertilization on Crop Production and its Natural Sources in Soil - A Review

Sulphur is the 4^th major nutrient after N, P and K. Its concentration ranges from 0.06-0.1% in soil and 0.1- 0.5% in plants. It is an essential nutrient for crop production and is important for protein synthesis and the formation of chlorophyll. Most of the sulphur requirement for plants is compensated in sulphate form (SO_4-2). Sulphur requirement and metabolism in plants are closely related to nitrogen nutrition. Among the fertilizer elements, sulphur requirement of oilseed crops is quite high as compared to other crops. In recent years however, deficiencies of sulphur have been diagnosed more frequently by farmers due to greater sulphur removal from soil by crops with enhanced yield, intensive cropping system and so on. Sulphur deficiency is usually corrected by the addition of a sulphur-containing fertilizers such as gypsum (13-18% S), SSP (12% S), sulphur bentonite (90%S), elemental sulphur (85-90% S), potassium sulphate (18% S) ammonium sulphate (24% S) and iron pyrite (53% S). Without adequate sulphur, crops can’t reach their full potential in terms of yield as well as quality. Sulphur being a forgotten secondary nutrient, plays crucial role in important physiological processes of the plant. Hence, we shall aware the farmers regarding the application of sulphur fertilizers.