Get to Know Your Sulfur Sources: AMS vs. Elemental Sulfur

Sulfur is an important nutrient in soybean production, playing a vital role in the growth and development of plants. Including plant-available forms of sulfur in crop nutrition plans can help maximize yield potential. However, not all forms of sulfur are created equal when it comes to delivering this essential nutrient when the soybean plants need it most.

"The form of sulfur makes all the difference in what is actually available to the plant roots to absorb, take up and use," said AdvanSix Senior Agronomist Mercedes Gearhart. "Sulfate is the only form of sulfur that plant roots are able to take up."

The two most common supplemental sulfur sources for soybeans are ammonium sulfate (AMS), such as Sulf-N^®from AdvanSix,and elemental sulfur. But they are quite different when it comes to effectiveness.

The following infographic can be used to help your grower-customers better understand these differences.

Ammonium Sulfate vs. Elemental Sulfur

Granular ammonium sulfate (AMS) is a dry granular fertilizer containing 21% ammonium-N and 24% sulfate-S.

Granular elemental sulfur (S) may be in the form of dry elemental sulfur with bentonite or as a co-granulated sulfur product.

Elemental S is water-insoluble and must be oxidized by soil microbes into sulfate before it can become available to be taken up by the plant.

AMS is highly soluble in water and readily available, so it immediately delivers sulfate sulfur to the plant roots as it dissolves in the soil. This makes it a preferred option that can be used to correct in-season deficiencies.

Share the AMS vs. Elemental Sulfur infographic with your customers by downloading a PDF version here.

As you are helping your customers with their fertilizer decisions, it is important to take time to consider planting date, soil type, the nutrient analysis of your field, the organic matter composition of your field and the yield potential of your soybean variety. Combined, these factors can help determine the fertilizer management best suited for the crop and field.

In most cases, when it comes to sulfur nutrition, AMS is your best bet for maximizing yield potential and ROI.

Learn more at http://soybeans.advansix.com/.