SULFUR REQUIREMENTS OF CEREALS, TREE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER CROPS

Abstract

Reports of S deficiencies and the beneficial effects of S on crop growth were summarized for (a) cereal crops; (b) vegetables belonging to the Cruciferae, Leguminosae, and Liliaceae families, and potatoes, carrots, celery, lettuce, tomatoes; (c) banana, citrus, and deciduous tree fruits, and special tree crops such as gum and black wattle; and (d) other crops, including blueberries, coffee, pineapple, tea and tobacco. Investigations in the Pacific Northwest suggested that S fertilization may also be beneficial to conifers. In many experiments there was a strong interaction of S with N. Cruciferous crops and members of the Liliaceae family have high S requirements because S is required for the synthesis of both proteins and other constituents such as mercaptans and glucosides. Protein synthesis was reduced and soluble organic and inorganic nitrogenous compounds accumulated in S deficient plants. S appeared to be stored in leaves of plants prior to flowering. At the time of grain development, the organic S of the leaves was converted to sulfate and translocated to the grains where it was recombined in organic compounds. Inside grain kernels S was concentrated in the embryo and also in the periphery of the endosperm. Most of the S in the kernel occurred in the cystine and methionine fractions. [There are 138 references from which the data were derived.].