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Sulfur deficiency showing up in corn

Sulfur deficiency is showing up in some corn fields across the Midwest.

Andrew Hoiberg with Ames, Iowa-based Calcium Products says it’s a result of the cool, wet spring. And he says sulfur deficiency is commonly confused with nitrogen deficiency.

“They both exhibit the same symptoms in terms of that interveinal striping on the leaves,” he says. “However, with nitrogen deficiency, that’s going to show on the older leaves on the bottom of the corn plant first—and the reason there’s a difference between those two is the way that the nutrients are mobilized within the plant.”

Hoiberg says there are several options available to address sulfur deficiency, but he recommends supplying a source that offers flexible application timing and a release pattern that is compatible with plant requirements. He says sulfur is important for maximizing yield potential.

“Sulfur is sort of the most important secondary macronutrient, right behind nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus,” Hoiberg says, “and if you don’t have that sulfur available, particularly early in the season, then you’re going to be missing out on some yield on the back end.”

Hoiberg says sulfur deficiency of corn and other crops has become more prevalent because less sulfur is being deposited from the atmosphere to the soil due to reductions in power plant sulfur emissions.

AUDIO: Andrew Hoiberg