Plant growth and fruit production is highly dependent on nutrients available to the plant. The 3 major nutrients used by plants are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N-P-K). The 3 major nutrients are supplemented by nutrients used in much smaller amounts, known as micronutrients.
Sulfur is considered a micronutrient, not because of the amount used by a plant, but because of the amount that is normally need to be supplemented by fertilizing. Sulfur is used in nearly the same quantity as Nitrogen, so it could easily be considered the fourth macronutrient!
About Sulfur
Sulfur (S) is a chemical element with the atomic number 16. It is a non-metal element that can oxidize most metals and many non-metals. It is also a reducing agent (similar to oxidizer). In its natural form, sulfur is a bright yellow crystal.
Sulfur in Nature
Sulfur is often found in nature as its pure elemental form and as a sulfate and sulfide. Plants need sulfate for growth, and in nature sulfates are very common. Many types of sulfates are found naturally in soil and are readily available to plants.
Sulfur in Plant Growth
The main function of Sulfur in plant growth is as a structural component in protein and is active in the conversion of Nitrogen (the macro nutrient most associated with plant growth) into protein. A lack of sulfur can cause a plants growth to be slowed and the uptake of nitrogen.
Other uses of sulfur in plants:
- Structural component in enzymes
- Aids chlorophyll production
- Improves seed production
- Aids root growth
- Helps with cold resistance
Fertilizing with Sulfur
Sulfur is essential to plant growth in many ways and can be fed to plants in a wide verity of methods. Many soils have ample amounts of sulfur naturally, but when a lack of sulfur is found it can be added quite simply.
Here are a few formalizers that contain available sulfur:
- Ammonium Sulfate (also contains nitrogen in high amounts)
- Calcium Sulfate
- Potassium sulfate
- Potassium magnesium sulfate
- Magnesium sulfate
A simple way to fertilize with sulfur is to dissolve Epson salts in water and spray on the foliage and soil.
Sulfur in Hot Peppers
Many hot pepper growers have found that additional sulfur helps in making hot peppers even hotter. Many growers feed their plants with dissolved Epson salts and some will even put a match head (contains high concentrations of sulfur) in the root zone of their pepper plants!
Comment here