While reading the 2012 Annual Farm Progress Reports from Iowa State University’s Northern Research Farm in Kanawha, IA, we discovered another trial investigating sulfur fertilization via gypsum on corn. The impetus for the study was the same as the Iowa Soybean Association’s; sulfur deficiencies are becoming widespread in both corn and alfalfa in Iowa and many other midwestern states. The experiment was performed by Dr. John Sawyer and David Rueber of Iowa State University.

Four rates of sulfur (5, 10, 20, 40 lbs/A) were applied to two different soils—one with low organic matter and a slope, and one with higher OM and less slope—as was a non-treated control (no sulfur) to compare differences throughout 2011 and 2012. These rates were applied to corn in 2011 and soybeans in 2012. The 2011 plots were planted to corn after soybean in 2011 and planted to corn again in 2012 to test residual effects of sulfur application. In 2012, additional plots were planted to soybean from corn the previous year.  

In June 2011, corn leaf greenness was visibly different among plots that had sulfur applied vs. those that did not, as well as having taller plants. By late June, there was still a height difference but the color differences were diminished. Despite visual differences, there was no difference in yield between the treated and non-treated pltos.

This is where it gets interesting… 

In 2012, the plots that had received sulfur in 2011 showed no visible differences from those that did not, unlike the differences in 2011. However, when harvest time came, there was an increase in corn yield for sulfur treated plots as a whole when averaged and compared against the non-treated control plots. So, there’s something happening with the sulfur in the soil from year to year that isn’t being accounted for that has increased corn yield as a residual effect. This is similar to what we saw with the Iowa Soybean Association On-Farm Network trials over the last few years; residual activity from sulfur application making a yield difference a year after we thought it would.

Soybeans did not show any statistically different response to the sulfur application in 2012.

This study will continue in 2013 and we are excited to see the results.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com. 

 In autumn of 2012, Craig Dick and I began discussing a Calcium Products research agronomist and manager of research & development (R&D). I was thrilled at the idea and gladly accepted the position a few months ago.
 
I completed my Ph.D. at Iowa State University in May 2012 in horticulture, with a research specialization in turfgrass science. I know that may not equate into corn and soybean agronomy at first glance, but one of the purposes of obtaining a Ph.D. is to show you have learned how to subjectively think about problems and use the scientific method via research to answer them. Although my concentration was in the turf world, I have a well-rounded education that can be applied to any area of plant science. I started part-time with CPI in October while finishing my post-doc work at ISU and started full-time January 1. We have been busy exploring new avenues and expanding existing ones for research and development opportunities.
 
On-farm strip trials are one area we are exploring. CPI has been doing these for quite a few years, and the idea is to increase product awareness by putting it into the hands of the farmer through our Prove-It program. Sometimes the dialogue between scientist and farmer gets lost in translation; when a farmer talks to another farmer about what worked it’s very effective. What better way to spread the message of soil health than through our customers? We put the power in your hands to realize how our products can help your bottom line. We are looking to involve as many farmers and co-ops as possible into our Prove-It program, as well as the Iowa Soybean Association’s On-Farm Network, which has been a great cooperative venture we hope to expand in the future.
 
University research is another area we are starting to increase R&D efforts. CPI has been involved with this in the past, however, cooperating with universities is often a tedious process and can involve considerable cost depending on the intensity of the experiment. We have identified key areas in soil science that involve our products in need of up-to-date research and information. It is our goal to help drive the science to answer these questions and increase the available knowledge base in these areas.
 
We are also increasing our in-house research efforts. This is where the ‘D’ of R&D comes in; we are always aiming to improve the physical characteristics of our products to ultimately benefit the end user. We do not simply manufacture a product in the cheapest and easiest way and sell it. On the contrary, we put considerable time, research and money into producing the best product available so we can help growers improve their soils. Beyond the ‘D,’ we are also looking at small-scale trials with different coatings for our pellets to expand into different agricultural and horticultural markets. Further, we are conducting small-scale experiments on different crops with our existing products to determine what benefits we can offer growers beyond the corn/soybean and turf markets.
 
Finally, we are always interested in knowing what problems and/or questions growers have for us. Often, these interactions with growers are what spawn new product ideas and research. So, please do not hesitate to contact anyone in the company if you have an idea for a research project or need a question answered about how any of our products work!

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, the blogronomist and VP of sales and marketing at Calcium Products. Find other articles at blog.calciumproducts.com. 

A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure of attending the Iowa Soybean Association’s On-Farm Network (OFN) conference in Ames. One of the highlights of the conference for me was the presentation by Dr. Tracy Blackmer about sulfur.

Sulfur application over the past 30 years was generally considered non-essential due to the high levels found in our atmosphere from power plant emissions high in sulfur, thereby satisfying plant needs. Times and emission standards have changed and, as a result, sulfur levels are much lower in atmosphere and soil than they were in 80s and 90s. Dr. Blackmer observed sulfur deficient corn in recent years and even dug out some old photos during his time at the University of Nebraska that showed sulfur deficiencies—at the time unnoticed, which was very surprising to him. Perhaps we have negated the benefits of sulfur application for far too long!

Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is a great source of sulfur and our gypsum product (SuperCal SO₄) has been included in strip trials—on both corn and beans—within the OFN for the past few years. Some observations from aerial photography have shown strips that received gypsum are much darker green than those that didn’t. Looking further into the data, these same farms showed a corn yield increase from 0.5 to 8.8 bushel from sulfur application, as well as tissue testing that confirmed sulfur deficiency in the untreated strips. There is some thought that the sulfur being present in requisite amounts helps the plant use nitrogen more efficiently.

We look forward to further investigation of the benefits of sulfur application on corn in the upcoming season and beyond! Our thanks to all the cooperators within the OFN.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, the blogronomist and VP of sales and marketing at Calcium Products. Find other articles at blog.calciumproducts.com. 

Our own Craig Dick is headed north to the Agri-Trend 2012: Farm Forum Event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's a conference and trade show and we're thrilled to be there with our distributor, ENR Distribution.

Craig will actually be speaking on Wednesday afternoon. He is going to cover the agronomic role soil pH, calcium and sulfur play in soil fertility and high yielding crops. If you're at the event, come learn why you can't afford to ignore these critical yield increasing items.

If Craig gets a chance to attend other sessions, he'll be tweeting about them with the hashtag #FFE12. Follow us on Twitter to read the insight he shares.

Our friends at Midwestern BioAg are hosting a soil seminar on Sept. 5 in Washington, Ia. We're pleased to support the event and I'm excited to be one of the presenters. 

Topics include sulfur, drought-proofing soils, manure, trace minerals and more. Download the invite here.

We'd love to see you there!

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, the blogronomist and VP of sales and marketing at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at blog.calciumproducts.com.      

Over the past week I have driven from Minneapolis, MN to Topeka, KS. I am seeing more delayed and uneven tasseling/flowering this year then I have for a number of years.

To achieve high yields it is vitally important that silking and tasseling (flowering) happens all at once.

Could uneven flowering be a sign that your corn is sulfur deficient?

Determining if sulfur is deficient

If you follow this blog you know sulfur deficiency can result in a general yellowing of the plant in corn, as interveinal chlorosis, similar to magnesium or zinc deficiency. Sulfur is not easily translocated in plants, so symptoms will appear first and be most pronounced on the younger, upper leaves. Deficiencies of mobile nutrients such as nitrogen will appear first on the lower leaves as nutrients are remobilized to growing plant tissues. 

Sulfur deficiency symptoms follow a similar pattern in other crops such as soybean, wheat, canola and alfalfa, with yellowing of the plant in the youngest tissue. In canola, early season deficiency symptoms include yellowing between leaf veins, cupped leaves and stunting. Late season symptoms are slender, cupped leaves that may be purple along the edges, delayed flowering and pale yellow or white flowers.

I have had the opportunity to work with canola growers over the last year. The one thing that really stands out in canola is that sulfur deficiency affects rapidly growing parts, especially reproductive structures. Since sulfur has a low mobility within the plant, symptoms are usually observed early in the season on the youngest leaves which are greenish-yellow compared to the normal bluish-green. If sulfur deficiency occurs around flowering, leaf symptoms may not be obvious, but flower petals may become paler. Yellow and white petals may even exist side by side on a single flower. (See the photo: flower on the left was treated with SuperCal SO4, control on the right)

The lifespan of sulfur deficient petals is shortened to one day instead of two or three, and pollen production is greatly reduced. In addition, sulfur deficient petals are egg-shaped compared to more round petals on plants with sufficient sulfur. By podding, sulfur deficiency becomes more distinctive. Pod number and size and seed number per pod are reduced significantly. Pods may be pale green, often with purpling and can be compressed or flattened. Sulfur deficiency can lead to a big reduction in yield and quality, namely a reduction in oil and protein.

Canola isn’t corn, but is this what we are seeing in this year's corn crop?

I have had trouble finding scientific journal relating flowering in corn and sulfur fertilization. However last year we delayed flowering in our trials. (picture at right: SuperCal SO4 trials on the right; control on the left).

Historically, sulfur deficiencies were thought to be a concern strictly on sandy soils, but in recent years, deficiencies have become more prevalent across a variety of soil types. Sulfur deficiencies may appear on hilltops or slopes where soils are eroded and low in organic matter soils. Sulfur deficiency symptoms are typically not uniform across the field, more often appearing in spots or streaks due to field variability. Symptoms may also appear in places where soils are colder or wetter, such as low spots or high residue areas. This is because the rate of sulfur mineralization and the supply of available sulfate are reduced in those areas.

A key component of sulfur for plant growth is the soil mineralization path. The amount of sulfur released from residues will depend on soil organic matter. Plant residues are decomposed by soil microbes, releasing sulphate. Like nitrogen, the sulfur mineralization rate is quite slow, and can not match the uptake rate of growing plants. Sulfur oxidizing bacteria are most active under warm, moist, well-aerated conditions.

So are we seeing uneven flowering due to the drought or from lack of available sulfur?

The answer is likely both. Sulfur may not be available to the plant due to the dry conditions. It is also in lower supply due to clean air laws. While this is a topic that definetly needs more research, be sure to make sure that your start your crop off right by supplying, at the least, grain removal rates of a good sulfate sulfur fertilizer like SuperCal SO4.

Related links:

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/isa-on-farm-trial-update.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-in-soybeans.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/isa-nutirent-management-benchmarking-project.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/iowa-soybean-association-spotlights-limestone.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/is-your-nitrogen-still-there.cfm

Sources:

http://www.canolacouncil.org/chapter9.aspx

https://www.pioneer.com/home/site/us/agronomy/library/template.CONTENT/guid.7786411D-9BC0-C084-8A66-CC7BE3A9C8E9

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a blogronomist and VP of sales and marketing at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com.

We are proud to be a major sponsor of the Practical Farmers of Iowa field days this year. Topics range from pesticide drift monitoring to strip-tillate, organic crops, no-till, GMOs, tree crops and more. You'll hear research results and discuss innovative practices while networking with your fellow Iowa farmer. It sounds like you'd meet some pretty amazing folks and taste some delicious food too! Learn more about the field days and how you can attend.

Here's the full lineup:

• MAY 31, AMES
• JUNE 5, BREDA
• JUNE 9, WAUKON
• JUNE 12, SHELBY
• JUNE 13, MAXWELL
• JUNE 14, WAVERLY
• JUNE 20, MANNING
• JUNE 21, OSAGE
• JUNE 21, KNOXVILLE
• JUNE 23, OXFORD
• JUNE 24, SOLON
• JULY 7, MCCALLSBURG
• JULY 15, DECORAH
• JULY 18, LOVILIA
• JULY 20, WAVERLY
• JULY 23, LAKE VIEW
• AUGUST 1, ALTA
• AUGUST 3, ADEL
• AUGUST 4, WAUKON
• AUGUST 7, STANTON
• AUGUST 9, WINFIELD
• AUGUST 17, KEYSTONE
• AUGUST 21, TAYLOR COUNTY
• AUGUST 24, BRANDON
• AUGUST 26, MARSHALLTOWN
• SEPTEMBER 8, SOLON
• SEPTEMBER 13, JEFFERSON
• SEPTEMBER 14, RIVER FALLS, WI
• SEPTEMBER 15, WAPELLO
• SEPTEMBER 16, IOWA FALLS
• SEPTEMBER 18, PAULLINA
• SEPTEMBER 22, POLK & STORY COUNTIES
• SEPTEMBER 26, EMMETSBURG
• OCTOBER 4, MECHANICSVILLE
• OCTOBER 7, KNOXVILLE & LACONA PASTURE WALKS

 The Iowa Soybean Association still need fields in some Iowa counties for the High Intensity Soybean Management trials and SuperCal SO4. If  you're interested in participating in these and haven't already done so, please contact Matt Sweeney immediately (msweeney@iasoybeans.com or 515-334-1048).

In addition to these trials, there are several other trial opportunities available. For both corn and soybeans, they're continuing plant population and plant nutrition studies. Other possibilities for soybean trials include plant health, insect control, and seed treatment. For corn, we're continuing our usual nitrogen and manure management trials as well. 

Growers interested in any of these can find more information at the On-Farm Network website. A convenient on-line trial sign-up form will be posted very soon. Look for it in the "What's New" section on the left side of the On-Farm Network home page.

Related Links:

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/isa-on-farm-trial-update.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-in-soybeans.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/isa-nutirent-management-benchmarking-project.cfm

The Iowa Soybean On-Farm Network just sent out an email reporting some data from their trials with our SuperCal SO4. Check out their message:

Sulfur Trials Show Varied Response

There’s been much discussion of sulfur deficiency in Iowa in recent years, but few farmers have actually observed it in their field.

For the past 3 years, growers working with the On-Farm Network® have been using replicated strip trials to look at sulfur-containing fertilizers in an attempt to determine whether these can bring up yields on fields where soil type, management and other conditions might make them prone to sulfur deficiency. We would not expect to see a response on fields where manure has been used recently, or, in general, on soils with more than 2% organic matter content.

Shown here are photos from one of the trial fields in 2011, where visual differences were observed early in the growing season. The field is located in Black Hawk County, with a mix of mostly Finchford, Sparta, Dickinson and Chelsea sandy loam soils. 

Individual plant photos here were typical for the differences between the treated and untreated strips. Aerial imagery in early July and again in August continued to show differences between the strips. It’s quite easy to pick out the strips in these images.

The visual differences seen in this particular trial were greater than those from other 2011 trials. Soil and tissue sample analysis in August showed that sulfur levels for both were higher in the treated strips than in the untreated strips in most of the trials. Yield response for all trials with sulfur products ranges from 2 to nearly 8 bu. per acre. We expected to see a difference in the trial pictured because of the sandy, low organic matter soils.

Click here for additional information on 2011 crop nutrient trials. When the new screen opens, scroll down the page to the Plant Nutrition section.

I spoke today to the Iowa independent Crop Consultants Association about Sulfur. Was a great group of guys who asked a ton of questions.

Here is the link to my presentation http://prezi.com/chqgvtiqpnul/sulfur/

Here are some quick links to our literature on Sulfur:

 Calcium & sulfur fertilization

SuperCal SO4

SO4 vs FGD

Blog Artilces on Sulfur

Thanks for the opportunity to present today!

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

Hi, my name is Courtney and I'm a city girl that's infiltrating the world of agriculture. Last week I worked the Calcium Products booth at the Iowa Power Farming Show and had a few observations to share.

But first, lest you think I'm kidding about the 'city girl' label, you should know that I've never NOT lived in an urban or suburban area. Even though I went to college here in Iowa and graduated with a few majors they were all in the journalism and design fields. The things I currently grow, or have grown, all fit in a backyard garden plot or a lovely counter or porch pot. Much to the consternation of my farm-raised husband, I call everything from a riding mower to a combine a "tractor." I was hired by Calcium Products to help with marketing and to promote our homeowner line of products. But because we're a small company and we all fill in where needed I've been learning more about ag.

So, without delay, here's a few things I learned at my first farm show:

1.  While most crops flourish the 6.5-6.8 pH range, as home lawns do, alfalfa tends to like a tad higher alkalinity.

2.  Farmers are loyal to the brands they love. I didn't even know there were so many options for logo-branded merchandise! I don't think I saw a single person sans logo or name of an ag-related company. I even saw one strapping lad in John Deere hat, shirt and belt buckle — I get it, you bleed green & gold!

3.  Even if your soil is naturally neutral or alkaline, the regular application of P&K will acidify it. Often a regular low-dose application of our SuperCal 98G lime will help keep things balanced.

4.  Men really are just little boys with toys, they're just bigger. Walking through the large equipment room of the show made me feel about ant-sized. Holy canoli, those are giant tractors! (teasing, teasing!)

5.  Many fields are sulfur-deficient. With cleaner air, our soil isn't pulling sulfur from the environment like it used to so we need to add it (via our SuperCal SO4 is a good way!).

6.  While everyone is loving this extremely warm/dry winter, we're all worrying about the drought. Did you know regular application of gypsum helps your soil be most efficient with the water it has?

7.  Farmers can't get enough pocket-sized notebooks. 

8.  The ag community is extremely welcoming and friendly. So many folks attend shows just to chat and make new friends.

9.  The number one most shocking thing I learned - so many farmers aren't soil testing. They have no idea what nutrients their soil (and therefore their crops) are lacking. They have no idea what their pH range is. This truly blew my mind. I heard so many reasons/excuses/theories I was aghast. One person was applying amendments based on their neighbor's soil tests (from now on I'm going to borrow my neighbor's grocery shopping list. I'm sure it'll be the same thing I need, right?). One guy said he applies ag lime every year even though he hasn't tested in years and had no idea what his pH is. I asked why waste the money since he might not even need it and he said he likes the tax deduction. (Weird, I'd prefer to save money and improve yield!) Several people said they only apply what they apply every year; no changes ever. (If you ate the exact same meal every day, every year, would you get all the nutrients your body needed?) And the story I heard repeatedly that still amazes me - farmers applying based on a soil test from YEARS ago. (If my husband and I applied that same practice to our rental property business, we could just buy 20 faucets this year because that's what we needed in 2006?)

What other things will shock me as I learn more about agriculture?

This week we hosted a soil amendment conference for our dealers and about 75 of them were able to attend. We had a wonderful cast of speakers and we'd love to share the presentations with those of you who weren't able to make it!

Check out this page to download their presentations. We'll have video of each talk coming soon!

 By: Glen Howell

In Midwestern agriculture, there are primarily 4 fertilizers that are actively used for meeting sulfur nutritional needs. They are listed from highest to lowest sulfur concentration.  Also listed is their overall analysis & type of product composition:

Elemental Sulfur-90%S; (0-0-0-90S); dry product; sulfur is not in plant available form
Ammonium Thiosulfate (ATS)-26% S; (12-0-0-26S); liquid product
Ammonium Sulfate (AMS)-24% S; (21-0-0-24S); dry product
Potassium Magnesium Sulfate (langbeinite)-21% S; (0-0-21-21S-11Mg); dry product
Calcium Sulfate (SuperCal SO4; CaSO4; gypsum)-17%S; (0-0-0-17S-21Ca); dry product
Potassium Sulfate (SOP)-17% S; (0-0-50-17S); dry product

Crop need for sulfur

Crops need varying amounts of sulfur to complete their life cycle.  Much of what is needed for growth is recycled to the soil with plant residues, but there is a net loss with the crop removed. Organic matter (O.M.) in soil is a great sulfur source—each 1% contains 140# of sulfur—but it may not always be available when the crop needs it. 

Crop         Unit of Measure        # Sulfur/Unit of Measure        Yield-# Sulfur Removed                                                                 (Crop removal)

Corn (grain)        Bushel                   0.08#                               200 Bushels-16# S

Corn (silage)      Ton                        1.1#                                 30 Ton-33# S

Soybean (grain)  Bushel                   0.18#                                60 Bushels-10.8# S

Alfalfa/Forages  Ton                        5.4#**                                5 Ton-27# S

**Conversations with Extension personnel indicate that 5.4#/Ton crop removal may be too conservative.  6#/Ton was suggested as more appropriate. 

For more specific information on sulfur fertilization, product rates & cost comparison, check out our Sulfur Calculator.

 Glen Howell is a contributing writer to Yield Starts Here, a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil.  His other interests include severe weather & old farm tractors.  Find additional articles by Glen and other writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com

 By: Glen Howell

I have received several calls this week on sulfur.  They focused on solubility/leaching potential, application rates, application timing, and product comparisons.  We will discuss solubility & leaching potential in this part.

The solubility of any fertilizer or soil amendment is critical to a successful outcome.  In order for plants to utilize a nutrient, it must be in soil solution (the water surrounding the soil particles).  Until a nutrient dissolves & goes into this solution, it is unavailable for plant growth.  This is why applying fertilizer does not immediately result in improved plant growth, but takes time (usually days) for the material to dissolve, go into soil solution, & be taken up by plant roots, before 

Corn showing sulfur deficiency

resulting crop growth occurs.  Leaching can happen if a product is too soluble, & unfavorable weather conditions occur.  This is typically associated with heavy rains, especially during the growing season, but is possible at other times also.  We are most often concerned about leaching nitrogen, but sulfur can leach almost as easily.  

Soil particles have both positive (+) and negative (-) charges on their exchange sites.  Younger, unweathered soils, such as those found in the Midwest, have a prevalence of positive sites, referred to as cation exchange capacity (CEC), while older, highly weathered soils have more anion exchange capacity (AEC).  Opposite charges are attracted to each other, so Midwestern soils with good CEC values, can hold significant quantities of beneficial nutrients such as Calcium (Ca++), Magnesium (Mg++), Potassium (K+) & the ammonium form of Nitrogen (NH4+). Unfortunately, nitrogen does not stay in the ammonium form for long, & instead changes to the nitrate form (NO3-), which is why nitrate leaching is such a huge concern (http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/crop-chemicals/keep-nitrates-where-they-make-you-money-pointers-keeping-your-nitrogen-where-you-bene; http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2007/5-14/nitrogenloss.html). Sulfur must be in the sulfate form (SO4--) for plants to use it, so conditions favorable for nitrate leaching will also favor the loss of sulfates.

In the next part, we will look at application rates for sulfur fertilizers.

Other references:

http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/rf/Solubility_of_Micronutrients.htm 

http://www.greenhousemanagementonline.com/gm_1209_fertilizer_nutrient_solubility_mobility.aspx

Glen Howell is a contributing writer to Yield Starts Here, a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil.  His other interests include severe weather & old farm tractors.  Find additional articles by Glen and other writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/

It's good to see that the rest of the world is catching on to the benefits of sulfur! I had dealer tell me that in 1996 a trade publication (no longer in print) had a cover story titled "Sulfur Arrives as the 4th Major Nutrient". Well they were only off 15 years, but finally sulfur is getting the respect of researchers, farmers and is getting some press.

Check out these two great article from Corn and Soybean Digest

http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/does-sulfur-pay

http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/crop-chemicals/will-you-need-sulfur-your-next-corn-crop

SuperCal SO4 is the gypsum referred to in the first article and the trial data can be found here.

We've been showing a need sulfur for it in Iowa since 2004 and on Alfalfa since 1998! Glad everyone else is figuring it out too!

More on Sulfur

http://www.calciumproducts.com/sulfur-fertilization.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/supercal-helps-pay-the-bills-in-canada.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/isa-on-farm-trial-update.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/corn-showing-signs-of-sulfur-deficiency.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfurs-effect-on-plant-diseases.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/2009-iowa-state-sulfur-trials.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-elemental-vs-sulfate.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-deficiency-.cfm

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

 If you've been following this blog then you know we are working with the Iowa Soybean Association's On-Farm Network to place trials of SuperCal SO4 around Iowa to compare using sulfur.

In a follow up to the report from June 15th, Corn Showing Signs of Sulfur Deficincy, this plot along with two others near Waverly, IA are still showing a visual response to SuperCal SO4. The first field is 3-4 leaves ahead of the check, with plants aready tasseling and silking. The check rows are 3-4' shorter, and ears have not started shooting off the stalk yet.

Please enoy these pictures and we'll update you further once ISA has released the final data.

Corn Trial #1 dark green strips SuperCal SO4 

SO4 Treatment on the Left, Check on the right

SO4 treatment on the right, check on the left.

SuperCal SO4 was not applied to the endrows

SuperCal SO4 on the right, check on the left

Check strip corn height 4'-5'

Height of SuperCal SO4 Strips, 8'-9'

 Corn Trial #2 dark green strips SuperCal SO4

 Bean Trial, Middle Field

 Are you an Iowa Farmer that would like to know more about plant tissue sampling and aerial imaging? If so then the Iowas Soybean Associations On-Farm Network has what you need.

"The concept is to get an aerial image of the field and use it to guide the collection of soil and plant samples shortly afterward. The goal is to get a minimum 500 corn and 500 soybean fields, with a proportionate amount from each of Iowa’s 99 counties. This broader database results in not only feedback for a given field, but also a relative comparison to other fields in your area and across the state. So while the tests will tell you the nutrient status in your field, the biggest benefit of the program is the ability to compare your results to the larger database.

As part of the larger program, the same type of soil and plant tissue samples will also be collected from On-Farm Network replicated strip trials to help with comparisons and interpretations. All samples will be collected at roughly the same time and sent to the same testing lab. Analyses will include N, P, K and S, but also micronutrients.

Using aerial imagery in this way is a newer technique that has interested many agronomists and growers. The imagery we’re providing for this is collected at a 1 meter resolution. This allows us to see differences as small as a single row. Many of the problems identified in aerial imagery are not visible in yield maps created at harvest because of the difference in resolution and because not all field issues follow the crop rows. The imagery will be both color and color-infrared and will be georeferenced so it can be used in mapping software. With these images as a guide, you can better select the sampling locations for both the soil and plant tissue samples.

Small group meetings will be held around the state over the winter to discuss the data and answer questions. This will allow participants to compare their results with those of others locally and across the state.

ISA is offering this program for the cost of the services, and have negotiated prices below those you would pay as an individual. For a field of up to 80 acres, with two soil and two tissue samples, the cost will be $195. Larger fields and more samples will be incrementally adjusted. The cost of this evaluation translates to the equivalent value of less than 1 bu. per acre. For many growers, this would be a good investment to give a direct evaluation of their own field as well as a relative evaluation when compared to other fields.

For more information please read the enclosed program description. More will be available at www.isafarmnet.com."

Program Details

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

 While many reports claim the corn crop is in excellent condition, if our trials and phone calls are any indication, much of the crop is short on sulfur. 

We have partnered with ISA this year and have close to 70 trials out. In this trial near Waterloo, you can clearly see the difference is color from the treated vs. non treated replications.

So what can be done if you have sulfur deficiency?

If you are going to side dress with liquid nitrogen you could add liquid thiosulfate to you N, but there are rumors that this product is in short supply.

You can spread SuperCal SO4 broadcast over your corn, with a dry spreader or with a plane. It will not burn the crop and will restore the green color in approximately 10 days.

Related Articles

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfurs-effect-on-plant-diseases.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-strip-trials.cfm

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/sulfur-elemental-vs-sulfate.cfm

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

From the Ventura County Star, GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP)

"Crop soils in north-central Idaho are becoming more acidic, possibly because of the repeated use of ammonium-based fertilizers, scientists say."

"Basically you're adding calcium carbonate to the soil," Sandlund said. The process is effective, but it's expensive, time-consuming and difficult, "usually involving tons per acre."

Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/22/n-idaho-farmers-concerned-about-acidic-soil/#ixzz1NBXiA0BAwww.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/22/n-idaho-farmers-concerned-about-acidic-soil/#ixzz1NBXiA0BA  - vcstar.com.

At CPI we are not against Ammonium sulfate (AMS), in many cases it can be a great fertilizer. However if you have soils that are already acid, and/or have a low buffering capacity. It may be best to choose another form of Nitrogen and sulfur that is less acidic. 

For every pound of Ammonium sulfate applied, you need 5 lbs of pure calcium carbonate to offset the acidity it causes. 
 

Urea only needs 1.8 lbs of pure calcium carbonate to offset the acidity it causes. Combine that with a product like SuperCal SO4 to get your sulfur and you have nitrogen and sulfur blend that is priced less initially and causes less soil acidity.

If you insists on using the higher priced ammonium sulfate of low pH soils or low buffered soils make sure you apply 5 lbs of SuperCal 98G when you apply your AMS. This will keep you pH where you need it, and it more effective than waiting for a problem, is not expensive, nor time consuming and is really easy.

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

This year we have teamed up with the Iowa Soybean Association's On-Farm Network. They will be testing what effect sulfur has on crop yields.

Here is a short radio spot we did with them at their 2011conference.

 http://www.isafarmnet.com/2011OFNConfPresentations/audio/CraigDick.mp3

Pulling from my new favorite book, Mineral Nutrition and Plant Disease, Edited by Lawrence E. Datnoff, Wade H. Elmer, and Don Huber. I have pulled out selected text from the book. It's not word for word, but I have tried to keep the original intent intact. I have include my notes in italics to set it apart from the text of the book. I hope you learn as much new information about sulfur as I did.

Chapter 8 Sulfur and Plant Disease

Justus Von Liebig, one of the founders of modern chemical agriculture understood that the nutritional status of plants was a key factor in a plants susceptibility to disease.

Sulfur-Induced Resistance:

SIR is the reinforcement of the natural resistance of plants against fungal pathogens through triggering the stimulation of metabolic processes involving sulfur by targeted sulfate-base and soil applied fertilizer strategies.

(My Note: That was along sentence, what does it mean? Applying sulfur fertilizers reduces the incidence of disease by strengthening the plants natural immune system.)

In trials, as the S supply was increased reductions of the following diseases are noted:

Sclerotinia (White Mold) and Pyrenopesiza (Light Leaf Spot) in Canola

Bibolaris myadis (Southern Leaf Blight) in corn

Rhizoctonia (Root Rot) in wheat and potato

Rust and Powdery mildew in cereal grains

(My Note: For the hows, whys and citations, you'll need to buy the book)

In addition to reduction of diseases, sulfur acts as an acaricide and controls mite populations. 

Sulfur is a key factor in spore dormancy (My Note: Meaning that fungal spores don't sprout when sulfur is high, see plants pass gas below)

SIR runs parallel with other plant defense mechanisms. (My note: the more defense mechanism you have working properly the better the plant defense is. Think of how on a football team all the defensive players have to do their job at the right time in coordination with the other 11 players, one little trip up and the other team scores.)

A sulfur deficiency reduces SIR 

Proteins and Compounds:

90% of the total S in plants is Cysteine and methionine. Cysteine and methionine are components of 99% of proteins. Reduction in S limits the production of protein in the plant. Amino acid type and concentration in plants are related to the susceptibility of plants to pathogens.

Sulfur is a key component of Glutathione (a non-protein compound), which reduces biotic and abiotic stresses, and increases cell wall strength.

Plants Pass Gas (My Title):

When adequate sulfur is present in the soil, corn and soybeans can release dimethylsufide (DMS), as a pathogen defense when attacked. Emissions in a pathogen infected area are 10 to 5,000 times higher than in uninfected parts of the plant. DMS is highly related to the S nutritional status of the plant, low sulfur in the plant, no DMS. (My Note: plants can conduct their own chemical warfare when given the right tools!) This SIR method needs more research and current findings show that it works more as a growth inhibitor than a rescue response.

Final Comments

The required S rate for SIR may be higher than that which is needed for physiological development.

(My Notes: So this begs the questions;

• Is applying 15 lbs of sulfur every other year enough? 
• Are you currently conducting tissue samples to see that sulfur levels are adequate? 
• Is the current tissue normal level (0.2%-0.4%) enough to initiate the SIR? 

While academia is still trying to figure this out, make sure you are getting some sulfur, every year, every crop, every acre with at least 100#'s of SuperCal SO4.)

Still need the opportunity to prove SuperCal SO4 works?

We have teamed up with the Iowa Soybean Associations on Farm Network to place replicated trials across Iowa. Give them or us a call to find out how to participate.

 Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

 Our recent work with the Iowa Soybean Association on sulfur strip trials has me thinking about sulfur fertilizer. Past research trials by Iowa State on sulfur fertilizer for corn in northeast Iowa show positive results about 100% of the time on sands, 70% of the time on silt loam soils, 60% of the time on loam soils.

It seems that the word is getting out as the cost of sulfur fertilizers is on the rise. Recent prices on elemental sulfur are in the $0.32 - $0.45/# range or $0.35 to $0.50/# of actual S. But since it has to oxidize down to gypsum to be plant available it really is a big waste of money at any price, not just when it’s high. 

Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) is in the $0.20 to $0.30/# range or $0.83 to $1.25 /# of actual sulfur, not considering the nitrogen or the limestone needed to offset the acidity if causes.

SuperCal SO4 will cost you $0.09 to $0.11/# or $0.52 to $0.65/# of actual sulfur, not considering the calcium.

This fall and next spring make sure you have sulfur in your fertilizer program. Make sure it’s in a form that works, and make sure your not paying too much. Not all sulfur forms are the same some can cost you more upfront and yield in the end! 

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ 

The Iowa Soybean Assoication On-Farm Network has joined with Calcium Products to conducted replicated strip trials of SuperCal SO4. The trials will be looking at the sulfur response from SuperCal SO4.

Go to http://www.isafarmnet.com/protocols.html to learn more about conducting an SO4 trial!

SuperCal SO4 provides 17% sulfur in the sulfate form. It doesn't cause soil acidity and is plant avialable nutrition for your crops!

Yield Starts Here is a blog for farmers, focusing on increasing yield and profitability by focusing on the soil. It is managed by Craig Dick, a Blogronomist and Sales and Marketing Manager at Calcium Products. Find other articles by Craig and guest writers at http://blog.calciumproducts.com/ .

On Monday one of our customers asked the question, “How much increase of sulfur will I see on my soils report for each pound of sulfur applied?”

This is an interesting question, and unfortunately does not have a direct answer. It depends on many things, soil texture, soil organic matter, soil temperature, soil moisture, drainage, and soil microbiology.

One of our customers emailed in with some questions. They wanted to know about lower pH levels and higher iron levels & potential correlations and were seeing seeing sub Boron and excess irons in tissue samples.

After some research, near as I can tell boron and iron have no interactions. Both are however affected by calcium (See chart 1).

More calcium will reduce iron uptake. Boron and silicon help to increase calcium uptake.

In low pH excess phosphorus can reduce boron uptake

High potassium can reduce boron uptake

Boron deficiency

• Reduces growth of soil bacteria.
• Poor movement of sugar and carbohydrates in the plant.
• Affects timing of maturity, pollination, and reproduction.

Some old articles on boron and silicon:

• http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/proper-nutrients-are-key-for-proper-maturity-and-disease-management.cfm
• http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/boron-.cfm
• http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/silcon-the-forgoten-nutrient.cfm

What about Iron?

Injury due to high soil iron concentrations is not common under neutral or high pH soil conditions. Toxic situations occur primarily on acid soils (< pH 5.0) and where excess soluble iron salts have been applied as foliar sprays or soil amendments (poor quality limestone).

The first symptoms of iron toxicity are necrotic spots on the leaves. An unusual form of iron toxicity has been observed in Michigan on organic soils and high organic sands. Some iron-rich, low pH, low manganese soils create an environment in which an interaction between the iron and manganese in the soil reduces manganese uptake by plants. The symptoms observed on the plants are of manganese deficiency, but the low plant uptake of manganese is caused by excessive available iron in the soil.

http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modf1/05209708.html

Toxicity Symptoms

Iron toxicity is primarily pH related and occurs where the soil pH has dropped sufficiently to create an excess of available Iron. (I think this statement is wrong, not low pH, low calcium is the issue cmd)

As with some other nutrients, the visible symptoms of Fe toxicity are likely to be a deficiency of another nutrient. Fe toxicity can also occur when Zinc is deficient, or the soil is in a "reduced" condition caused by very wet or flooded conditions. Excess Fe can result in Dark green foliage, stunted growth of tops and roots, dark brown to purple leaves on some plants (e.g. bronzing disease of rice). http://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/Fe_Basics.htm

High levels of nitrogen and potassium increase iron uptake

Excessive iron can reduce uptake of manganese, additions of sulfur improve uptake of manganese

High iron can reduce zinc uptake, and low zinc uptake is often found with low manganese

Iron excess:

• Interferes with phosphorus absorption.
• Requires use of higher levels of potassium to regulate.
• Can cause Zinc deficiency

To reduce problems with excess iron make sure you have adequate levels of calcium in your soils and the pH is at least 6.5. SupeCal SO4 gypsum and SuperCal 98G limestone are great ways to ensure proper nutrient uptake.

From:

CROP NOTES for March 30, 2010

Iowa State University Extension Information for Northeast Iowa
By Brian Lang, ISU Extension Agronomist
911 S. Mill Street, Decorah, IA 52101
563-382-2949
 

Great Time to Setup a Sulfur Fertilizer Strip-Trial
Research trials on sulfur fertilizer for corn in northeast Iowa show positive results about 100% of the time on sands, 70% of the time on silt loam soils, 60% of the time on loam soils, and only 14% of the time on clay loam soils (all of these fields were without any recent manure history).  If you are on a silt loam (Fayette, Downs) or loam soil, how do you know if you will benefit? 

The sulfur soil test is no help in determining sulfur recommendations.  Plant analysis works good for alfalfa, but not corn.  We recommend a simple sulfur fertilizer strip trial to help you see if sulfur fertilizer will pay on your fields.  It’s easy.  Get a spreader with Calcium sulfate (gypsum) set to spread about 100 lbs of product per acre.  That will give you about 16 lbs of sulfur per acre.  Spread on your fields of interest leaving a large gap between spreader passes.  E.g. make a 60-foot spreader pass, skip over 120 feet, make a spreader pass, skip over 120 feet, make a spreader pass.  Now you have 6 strips, 3 with sulfur and 3 without.  Do this on as many fields that you are interested in.
 

Calcium Products Tip: Many dealers carry SuperCal SO4 pelletized gypsum!

  Summary of Sulfur Strip Trials Conducted in Central and Northeast Iowa

Report extract:

Last fall Sulfur (S) strip trials were conducted by John Sawyer, Professor; Daniel Barker, Assistant Scientist; ISU Extension Field Agronomists Brian Lang, George Cummins, and Mark Wuebker. The product was aplied by Heartland Co-op, Innovative Ag Solutions, and Five Star Co-op.  Calcium Products, Inc. provided the SuperCal SO4 gypsum used in the central Iowa trials with Heartland Co-op.

RESULTS

Six of the ten field sites had a corn yield increase from the S application (Table 1).  The other four sites had no yield difference with or without S application.  This is a 60% response rate to S application, which is similar to other recent small plot research conducted in north central to northeast Iowa on S response in corn.  For the six responding sites, the average yield increase from S application was 9 bu/acre, with a range of 5 to 13 bu/acre.  These yield increases are large enough to more than pay for a S application (for corn, suggested rates are 15 lb S/acre for fine-textured soils and 25 lb S/acre for coarse-textured soils).

This initial strip trial work indicates that S deficiency is occurring across a wide geographic area of iowa from central to northeast Iowa, and at a frequency that justifies continued research on S fertilization and deficiency identification across Iowa corn and soybean production.

Calcium Products would like to thank everyone involved, especially the farmer cooperators!

I read everything I can get my hands on about plant health, I found this article on Clean Air Gardening.

While visiting with a dealer last week, I discussed the attributes of different sulfur fertilizer sources.  The final choice between ammonium sulfate and calcium sulfate came down to the cost for a unit (#) of sulfate sulfur.  Here is what my calculations showed (these prices are not suggested to be indicative of every particular situation, but only an example):

Ammonium sulfate (AMS), 21-0-0-24S, was costing $0.75 per unit of sulfur (nitrogen value set to 0).

Calcium sulfate (SO4), 0-0-0-17S-22Ca, was costing $0.59 per unit of sulfur (calcium value set to 0).

If the sulfur requirement for 5 Ton alfalfa removal is 30# (6# sulfur per Ton), the cost for sulfur nutrition from AMS was $22.50 per acre, with the SO4 providing the same 30# of sulfur, but for a cost of $17.70 per acre.  Net difference (savings) to the grower of $4.80 per acre.

Not a huge difference, but still a 20% decrease in cost.  With the economic challenges of livestock production today, every little bit helps.

SuperCal SO4, the right fit, right now. 

A farmer recently asked me about the use of elemental sulfur (i.e. Sulfur 90) for crop nutrition. I answered the question with a question of my own-Why were they considering using that product?

Their answer included less cost (questionable) and higher concentration of sulfur (true), along with better agronomic benefits (what???). There was a definite opportunity to provide basic agronomic education, regarding a) what can plants utilize, b) what else is present in the material and do we need it, and c) what other effects does the material have.

Sulfur is taken up by plants only in the sulfate (SO4) form, through the roots. Elemental sulfur must be oxidized in the soil to SO4 before it can be taken up by the plant. The time it takes for this conversion depends on the weather, the soil, and the product used. A great reference is found on the Back To Basics website, www.back-to-basics.net/agrifacts/pdf/b2b29a.pdf and www.back-to-basics.net/agrifacts/pdf/b2b29b.pdf. These 2 articles talk about the differences between sulfate and elemental forms, along with the conditions necessary for the conversion to sulfate.

Elemental sulfur has a place in crop production. It also has some drawbacks including being a very acidic product, and taking a long time before it is plant available.

If you need a plant available sulfur source, you need the sulfate form (calcium sulfate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate). Make sure you understand all of the details about elemental sulfur, before making it part of your crop nutrition program.

In an e-letter I received from AgProffesional.com  there is a good article on alfalfa response to sulfur. Trials conducted by Iowa State are confirming what Calcium Products' customers have always known.

This summer we will be teaming with Dr. Sawyer, and Extension Agronomist Mark Wuebker to continue their sulfur research on corn. http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/iowa-state-sulfur-research.cfm

"We are excited at Calcium Products to team with Dr. Sawyer and his staff." stated Larry Moore, President of Calcium Products. "It will be of great importance to Iowa farmers to finally quantify the impact of sulfur on production. I have seen a yield increase from sulfur on the farms I own and for many of our customers, SuperCal SO4 is the last thing they would cut from their fertility programs in tight years."

SuperCal SO4 is high quality natural gypsum finely crushed then pelletized. It contains 17% sulfur and is one the least costly sulfur products on the market today.

Additional Information

Sulfur is a structural component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and enzymes and is essential to produce chlorophyll. It imparts flavor to many vegetables. Deficiencies show as light green leaves. Sulfur is readily lost by leaching from soils and should be applied with a nutrient formula. Some water supplies may contain Sulfur. For more information of the 20 other important crop nutrients click here.

Past blog post on sulfur and Iowa State

From Iowa State Crop Notes for March 4 2009

Mark Wuebker will be conducting similar trials in the Des Moines/Ankeny area. Anyone interested in participating in these strip trials should contact Mark or Brian.

Mark Wuebker
ISU Extension Agronomist
1625 ADVENTURELAND DR STE A, ALTOONA, IA 50009-2249
Phone: (515) 957-5778
Fax: (515) 967-6164
Email: mwuebker@iastate.edu

Calcium Products will be assisting Iowa State in this research.

Think your getting a good deal from free product?

Think there might be a reason someone would pay you to use a product?

Wonder what else you get for "free" in power plant gypsum (coal ash, fly ash)?

This is a great article discussing the problems with power plant gypsum.

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coal-ash-in-soil

SuperCal SO4 95% pure, has no Arsenic, and is currently under organic review.

On Monday  I attended a meeting put on by International Ag Labs titled Soybean Summit - Pushing the Yields on Soybeans, in Fairmont, Minnesota.

I number of experienced agronomists spoke on many items. Here are some of the notes I took;

• Drying soil when doing a lab analysis increases sulfur readings
• Greatest soil S loss when K and Na are high
• Stunted plants and uneven crop emergence can be caused by sulfur deficiency
• 2010 should be a bad white mold year for soybeans
• Sencor can worsen white mold
• If your roots are not bright white you do not have enough available calcium
• May take 3 years to improve soils
• P:K ratio of 1:1 for proper growth and to reduce weeds

To Control Insects:

• Control Nitrate levels in the plant
• Keep plant Sugar high
• Keep available calcium high
• Use the right form of phosphate for your soil

For Higher Yields on Beans

1. Break Compaction
2. Get oxygen into the soil
3. Lime or Gypsum and apply manure
4. Meet early needs of the plant
5. Identify diseases and insect problems
6. Foliar Feed

And what you been waiting for my notes from Kip's talk (In my words)

• Crops should ripen with a green stalk, if not your not fertilizing properly
• Accurate planting is key, drills do not do this
• All seed emerging within 48 hour of the first plant
• 2" tall weeds remove 10% of yield that cannot be recovered

There was much more discussed but my key take-away was fertilize properly first, get your soil balanced and working then move on to other things. This was a great meeting for any farmer looking to improve yields. I highly suggest trying to make it to one of International Ag labs next meetings.

In the January 2009 edition of the CSA News, The USDA-ARS in Kentucky and Arkansas are researching how Alum affects Ammonia Producing Micro-organisms in poultry litter.

They found that Alum reduced the bacterial population by 50% and a 3x increase in the fungal population. While the bacteria reductions lower the ammonia volatilization loss, the increase in fungus increases the N mineralization.

The story reports that this study will help researchers develop better litter amendments. View the report at http://jeq.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/37/6/2360

Ok, so what is Alum and what are the other choices in treating litter?

Alum is caustic, makes soil acidic, reduces the ability of crops to grow once spread on your fields, and is expensive.

Another choice for treating poultry litter is PLT. In addition to being astronomically expensive, anyone who willingly applies PLT treated litter to their fields is going to experience massive increases in sodium levels (a much bigger concern than ammonia).

While research is good, there is currently a product on the market that will treat ammonia for pennies, is easy to handle, doesn't cause soil problems, and is safe and natural.

We introduced SuperCal SO4 for treating manure in past blogs, The Smell of Money and Treating Manure with SuperCal SO4, here is what really happens when using different products to treat manure.

Warning - Significant amounts of chemistry below!

Alum

Also known as hydrated aluminum potassium sulfate, and Aluminum Sulfate

Carries an OSHA safety warning of Hazardous

Cost $70 for a 50# bag

How it works
10 NH₃ + 10 KAl(SO₄)2 + 12 H₂0 = 10 NH₄(SO₄)2 + 10 KOH + 10 Al 

Ammonia - NH₃ is produced in animal manure by the breakdown of urea and in poultry manure by the breakdown of uric acid. The gaseous emission of NH₃ can be inhibited if converted to ammonium - NH₄. Alum - KAl(SO₄)2, is an acid that produces hydrogen ions - H when it dissolves. The hydrogen ions produced by this reaction will attach to ammonia to form ammonium, which further reacts with sulfate ions to form ammonium sulfate - NH₄(SO₄)2
Ammonium sulfate - NH₄(SO₄)2, is an inorganic chemical compound commonly used as a fertilizer. It contains 21% nitrogen as ammonium ions and 24% sulfur as sulfate ions. In the soil the sulfate ion is released and forms bisulfate, lowering the pH balance of the soil while contributing essential nitrogen for plant growth.

Potassium Hydroxide - KOH, also known as Caustic Potash is also produced. KOH is used in cleaning and disinfection.

Aluminum - Al, the final component of the reaction is a precipitation of aluminum.

Reasons not to apply aluminum to your fields:

• It is one of the few abundant elements that have no known function in living cells.
• Aluminum is primary among the factors that reduce plant growth on acid soils.
• Aluminum disturbs root growth and function.
• Aluminum has been implicated as a factor in Alzheimer's disease.
• Aluminum can be traced to reduced renal function.
• Aluminum has been observed as causing growth retardation in pre-term infants and infants.
• May increase the risk of breast cancer; furthermore, aluminum increases estrogen-related expression and breast cancer cell growth.

PLT

Also known as Sodium Bisulfate, and Sani-Flush

Carries an OSHA safety warning of Mild Irritant

Cost $398 for a 50 lb bag

How it works
NaHSO₄ + NH₃ = NH₄SO₄ + Na

Sodium Bisulfate - NaHSO₄  reacts with ammonium - NH₃ to make Ammonium Sulfate - NH₄SO₄ and Sodium - Na

Ammonium sulfate - NH₄(SO₄)2, is an inorganic chemical compound commonly used as a fertilizer. It contains 21% nitrogen as ammonium ions and 24% sulfur as sulfate ions. In the soil the sulfate ion is released and forms bisulfate, lowering the pH balance of the soil while contributing essential nitrogen for plant growth.

Sodium - Na, reacts with water to release heat. The reaction with water produces very caustic sodium hydroxide or lye. Sodium and potassium can combine in soil to act as a drying solvent. Sodium in soil at concentrations greater than 1% is detrimental to most row crop growth.

Sodium bisulfate is also used in household cleaners like Sani-Flush, for example.

SuperCal SO4

Derived from virgin mined calcium sulfate dihydrate, also known as gypsum

SuperCal SO4 does not carry OSHA warnings

Cost for a  50# bag $8-$13 in the Midwest

How it works
NH₃ + (CaSO₄- 2H₂O) = Ca(OH)₂ + NH₄(SO₄)2

Ammonium - NH₃ from manure reacts with SuperCal SO4 to produce a Calcium Hydroxide - Ca(OH)₂ and Ammonium Sulfate - NH₄(SO₄)2.

Calcium Hydroxide - Ca(OH)₂ is used in medicine to treat acid burns, as an antacid, as an anti-fungal and anti-microbial preservative for vegetables in storage. Its also known traditionally as hydrated lime. Calcium Hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate Naturally offsets the acidity caused by ammonium sulfate

Ammonium Sulfate - NH₄(SO₄)2, is an inorganic chemical compound commonly used as a fertilizer. It contains 21% nitrogen as ammonium ions and 24% sulfur as sulfate ions. In the soil the sulfate ion is released and forms bisulfate, lowering the pH balance of the soil while contributing essential nitrogen for plant growth.

Gypsum - (CaSO₄- 2H₂O), is a pH neutral salt. It contains 22% calcium as calcium ions and 17% sulfur as sulfate ions. Gypsum does not raise or lower pH. Gypsum will naturally leach excess nutrients such as magnesium, sodium, and aluminum. Gypsum will increase the oxygen content of soil, making a better growing medium for crops.

• Choosing the right variety
• Improve soil drainage
• Fungicide seed treatments can be used to reduce the early season damping off
• Avoid applying high levels of potash

With corn silage season coming up this is a good time to talk about nitrate poisoning. Typically associated with drought and rain after dry conditions, there are other factors to that can cause high nitrate in forage crops. High rates of N, low or high levels of molybdenum, low sulfur, and low boron, and events that upset normal plant growth like early frosts.

New pastures are known to be high in nitrate, especially the faster they grow, the more toxic they can become. Hybrid ryegrass is one of the most dangerous. If reseeding pastures this fall make sure to add edible clover which normally do not have high nitrate levels.

Nitrate poisoning has been on the rise in the past decade, this could be due to the reluctance of today's generation to lime pastures (molybdenum levels drop with acid soils), increase use of urea on pastures, and less sulfur naturally being applied due to clean air laws.

Nitrate Toxicity is aggravated by:

• Excess N application in the autumn after a dry period of no growth
• Rain and warmth after a no-grow period
• Fast plant growth
• Stressed plants, from drought, hot wind, frost, and hail
• Low sunshine
• Fast eating by underfed, hungry animals
• Low pasture molybdenum - below 0.5 ppm, 1.6 ppm is optimum
• Molybdenum levels above 4 ppm, especially if pasture sulfur is low
• Low sulfur levels, below 0.25 ppm
• Low calcium and phosphorus levels
• Nitrate is highest in the morning, when rotating cattle wait until mid afternoon

While environment can have an impact on nitrate levels, having the proper soil nutrients in the proper levels is great insurance from nitrate poisoning. As a bonus you'll enjoy better pasture performance, and high gains from your animals.

More bad news on the inputs front from Ohio State (see below), fertilizer prices continue to surge.

Wednesday afternoon, CNBC's Fast Money program interviewed Mike Wilson, CEO of Agrium. Mr.Wilson Stated that demand is not falling off, supply will not meet demand for 3-5 years, they are in effect sold out, their inventory is so low they can't produce enough.

Might be time to really think about your fertilization program for next fall. You certainly don't want to short your yield with the price of corn, but does it really make sense to keep putting on high levels of expensive fertilizer (P-K)?

When was the last time you applied lime? When was the last time you soil sampled? Might be worth a couple of dollars an acre in lab costs to find out what you need and what you don't. When is the last time you applied micros like sulfur, boron, or copper?

Now is the time to start planning that fall fertilization. Lime prices are relatively unchanged and is a bargain compared to potash. It will also make any fertilizer you apply work better!

Call us, or one of our dealers, they can help you reduce your fertilizer costs, and still maintain yields, maybe even increase it!

Last week Morris Marsolek, consultant to Calcium Products, Jim Milam, Turf Sales with Calcium Products, and I spent a day in Los Angeles. While it was not really a vacation, the weather was a nice break from tornados, hail and down pours.

The reason for my trip was to meet the owners of Wallace Laboratories. Calcium Products has long relied on the expertise of Dr. Arthur Wallace and Dr. Garn Wallace.

Many agronomists and researchers in the Midwest may not have heard of the Wallaces, however west of the Rockies they are well known.

The Wallaces have over 70 years of combined experience in plant physiology, soil science, ecology and plant nutrition with over 600 publications. They have authored special issues in Soil Science, Journal of Plant Nutrition, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis.

These articles cover, revegetation of disturbed lands, plant analysis to assess mineral needs of plants, determination of normal and abnormal nutrient concentrations, chelated micronutrients in plant nutrition, iron nutrition, excess trace elements in soil and plants, multiple action factors on plant growth and improvement of the physical properties of soil.

In addition to numerous publications and laboratory services, Dr. Garn Wallace also offers consulting. When we at Calcium Products have a question that we can not find the answer to, 9 times out of 10 Dr. Garn Wallace will be able answer it.

Thanks again for letting us visit, and keep up the good work!

Arthur Wallace, Ph. D., Professor Emeritus, UCLA, Department of Agricultural Sciences (Soil Science and Plant Nutrition). Dr. A Wallace organized the first Iron Symposia, which is still held every year at a different location around the world. He has written many paper about he benefits of gypsum and PAM.

Garn A. Wallace, pH. D. earned his doctorate degree from UCLA in the Department of Biochemistry. He worked as a research biochemist in the Laboratory of Biomedical and Environmental sciences before forming Wallace Laboratories with Arthur Wallace. Garn has over 100 publications in the fields of plant nutrition, soil science, microbiology, plant physiology, ecology, soil conditioners, mineral excesses, water relationship in plants, mineral toxicities etc.

Wallace Labs is located at 365 Coral Circle, El Segundo, CA 90245, (310) 615-0116.

http://www.wlabs.com/default.cfm

Many of the books written by Drs. Wallace are available on their website.

Corn response to sulfur in Iowa is reported to give an increase in yield 82% of the time. Over half the states in the US have reported sulfur deficient soils. The clean air laws and reduced sulfur content of fuels has decreased the amount of sulfur reaching fields… and pastures.

Sulfur is use to build proteins, amino acids and enzymes. Forages grown with adequate sulfur will have a higher protein content and lower nitrate content.

Fertilizing your pasture with SuperCal SO4 has many positive effects on the amount and quality of the grass. This leads to higher intakes, improved gains and higher stocking rates.

Increasing the sulfur content of your forages will result increase meat-, wool- and milk production. The higher production is due increased dry matter, and cellulose digestibility, increased feed intake and improved nitrogen balance.

Dairy cattle performance can be improved as well. Improvements included a higher production of milk solids, milk fat, and milk protein and milk casein. The higher casein content raised cheese yields.

Under conditions of a sulfur deficiency, increased sulfur of beef cattle rations not only improved average daily weight gain, but also decreased feed costs per pound of gain and increased the carcass grading

Don’t let sulfur limit your production, add SuperCal SO4 your fertility program.