Sulfur Use by Canola

Plants take up sulfur in the sulphate (SO₄) form. When elemental sulphur fertilizers are applied to soil, they must be oxidized by soil microorganisms to the sulphate form before plants can use the nutrient, and the rate of oxidation is influenced by such factors as fineness of the fertilizer material, and soil moisture and temperature. The rate of transformation granular elemental sulphur fertilizers is too slow in soils to adequately supply the sulphur requirements of a canola crop when the fertilizer is applied in the spring of the crop year. For spring application in the crop year, it is essential than an easily soluble sulphate-sulphur fertilizer be used.