There is some 90% elemental sulfur products available. Several years ago I picked up 2 50lb bags from Landmark Cooperative. It comes as a yellow flake that can be broadcast or mixed with fertilizer. After a soil test, I broadcast the 90 lbs of sulfur on 5 acres gave me 18 lbs per acre. Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) I keep on hand to add to water when spraying various herbicides like glyphosate.
You are welcome. I think that we can help each other out. I will add this as a caution, based on my experience.
I limed in 2016 per soil test. In 2017, I fertilized in May. I got another soil test in July, 2017. PH went down.
No additional lime. Looking at my notes, I goofed up. I started to lime in August, but stopped, because of rain, and did not finish. So I will recommend keeping notes.
Lime can be applied now and it takes time to work. Melting snow and rain will "speed up" pellitized lime.
Ammonium sulfate used as lawn fertilizer has the disadvantage of creating high levels of acidity in the soil.” It requires approximately two to three times as much lime to neutralize the same amount of acidity as formed by other common N (nitrogen) carriers,” says a report by Ohio State University Extension Agronomist Jay W. Johnson. Overly acidic soil reduces the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which break down organic matter and create nitrogen in natural processes. If you use ammonium sulfate as a lawn fertilizer, test your soil pH regularly.
Ammonium sulfate is a very important fertilizer for any kind of soil that's high in pH and needs a little bit of sulfates to work against the high calcium or the high pH. The nice thing about the ammonium sulfate is that the nitrogen in it is a little bit slower releasing so it lasts throughout the growing season better than the nitrate forms of nitrogen.
We also find that ammonium sulfate is very helpful for plants that are producing any kind of oil, like soybeans that produce soybean oil. Those kind of things will take a little extra sulfates. Alfalfa crops will take a little bit of sulfates to make the sulfur-bearing amino acids. Alfalfa and legumes such as soybeans will benefit from some ammonium sulfate.
We never use over 200 lbs. an acre. We would keep it to 100-200 lbs. as typical application rates. We find that the amount of sulfur in the air has been reduced due to the pollution and the environmental controls so that less sufur is given up by industry into the air. And while that can be helpful for the environment where there was a problem with acid rain and the pH is going very low in the soil, for farmers that means there is probably a deficiency of sulfur in the soil. And one of the best ways to provide it very quickly is with ammonium sulfate.
A lot of recommendations that we give at International Ag Labs have ammonium sulfate. We find it to be a very important nitrogen and sulfur source that is very helpful for stimulating bacteria from the sulfates.
Ammonium fertilizers include urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. Bacteria in the soil convert the ammonium into acidic compounds. Ammonium fertilizers are convenient because they simultaneously fertilize your plants and acidify the soil. However, to avoid applying too much nitrogen, use these products only to make gradual changes to the soil pH. Still, there is less risk of lowering pH too much when using ammonium fertilizers than there is when using elemental sulfur. Ammonium fertilizers also can be used with acid-loving plants to maintain an already low soil pH. Ammonium sulfate is an ammonium fertilizer that is two to three times more acid forming per pound of nitrogen than other commonly used ammonium fertilizers.
So I will strongly recommend a soil test and liming to balance fertilizer applications. It is a balancing act and John can provide more insight than I can.
Ammonium Sulfate fertilizer. 21-0-0. As its name, and chemical formula denote, Ammonium Sulfate, is a two-in-one fertilizer. Its crystal form, and 21-0-0 analysis, are one of agriculture’s oldest solid forms of fertilizer. Best® Ammonium Sulfate 21-0-0 is a quick acting form of water soluble nitrogen that stimulates vegetative growth and produces deep green color.
Ammonium Sulfate contains high sulfur to enhance decomposition of thatch through stimulation of soil micro-organisms, improves color and density of turf. This high quality fertilizer is screened crytstaline material that is not products as a result of any bi-product manufacturing process.
There is some 90% elemental sulfur products available. Several years ago I picked up 2 50lb bags from Landmark Cooperative. It comes as a yellow flake that can be broadcast or mixed with fertilizer. After a soil test, I broadcast the 90 lbs of sulfur on 5 acres gave me 18 lbs per acre. Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) I keep on hand to add to water when spraying various herbicides like glyphosate.
You are welcome. I think that we can help each other out. I will add this as a caution, based on my experience.
I limed in 2016 per soil test. In 2017, I fertilized in May. I got another soil test in July, 2017. PH went down.
No additional lime. Looking at my notes, I goofed up. I started to lime in August, but stopped, because of rain, and did not finish. So I will recommend keeping notes.
Lime can be applied now and it takes time to work. Melting snow and rain will "speed up" pellitized lime.
Ammonium sulfate used as lawn fertilizer has the disadvantage of creating high levels of acidity in the soil.” It requires approximately two to three times as much lime to neutralize the same amount of acidity as formed by other common N (nitrogen) carriers,” says a report by Ohio State University Extension Agronomist Jay W. Johnson. Overly acidic soil reduces the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which break down organic matter and create nitrogen in natural processes. If you use ammonium sulfate as a lawn fertilizer, test your soil pH regularly.
Ammonium sulfate is a very important fertilizer for any kind of soil that's high in pH and needs a little bit of sulfates to work against the high calcium or the high pH. The nice thing about the ammonium sulfate is that the nitrogen in it is a little bit slower releasing so it lasts throughout the growing season better than the nitrate forms of nitrogen.
We also find that ammonium sulfate is very helpful for plants that are producing any kind of oil, like soybeans that produce soybean oil. Those kind of things will take a little extra sulfates. Alfalfa crops will take a little bit of sulfates to make the sulfur-bearing amino acids. Alfalfa and legumes such as soybeans will benefit from some ammonium sulfate.
We never use over 200 lbs. an acre. We would keep it to 100-200 lbs. as typical application rates. We find that the amount of sulfur in the air has been reduced due to the pollution and the environmental controls so that less sufur is given up by industry into the air. And while that can be helpful for the environment where there was a problem with acid rain and the pH is going very low in the soil, for farmers that means there is probably a deficiency of sulfur in the soil. And one of the best ways to provide it very quickly is with ammonium sulfate.
A lot of recommendations that we give at International Ag Labs have ammonium sulfate. We find it to be a very important nitrogen and sulfur source that is very helpful for stimulating bacteria from the sulfates.
Ammonium fertilizers include urea, ammonium nitrate, and ammonium sulfate. Bacteria in the soil convert the ammonium into acidic compounds. Ammonium fertilizers are convenient because they simultaneously fertilize your plants and acidify the soil. However, to avoid applying too much nitrogen, use these products only to make gradual changes to the soil pH. Still, there is less risk of lowering pH too much when using ammonium fertilizers than there is when using elemental sulfur. Ammonium fertilizers also can be used with acid-loving plants to maintain an already low soil pH. Ammonium sulfate is an ammonium fertilizer that is two to three times more acid forming per pound of nitrogen than other commonly used ammonium fertilizers.
So I will strongly recommend a soil test and liming to balance fertilizer applications. It is a balancing act and John can provide more insight than I can.
Good luck and an invite to all to join in.
Thanks for the reply.
Ammonium Sulfate fertilizer. 21-0-0. As its name, and chemical formula denote, Ammonium Sulfate, is a two-in-one fertilizer. Its crystal form, and 21-0-0 analysis, are one of agriculture’s oldest solid forms of fertilizer. Best® Ammonium Sulfate 21-0-0 is a quick acting form of water soluble nitrogen that stimulates vegetative growth and produces deep green color.
Ammonium Sulfate contains high sulfur to enhance decomposition of thatch through stimulation of soil micro-organisms, improves color and density of turf. This high quality fertilizer is screened crytstaline material that is not products as a result of any bi-product manufacturing process.
Analysis
Total nitrogen: 21%
Available phosphate: 0%
Soluble potash: 0%
Sulfur: 24%
John has sulfur in his humics, not sure how much.