Episode 383: From Brimstone to Broccoli: The Story of Sulfur

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialists Nina Prater, Darron Gaus, and Lee Rinehart continue their exploration of plant nutrients. In previous episodes, they covered nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium, and in this episode they dive into the pungent world of sulfur. They discuss the history of sulfur, how sulfur is related to air quality, how sulfur works in the soil, why it is so important in plants, and how to manage sulfur in sustainable and organic ways.

ATTRA Resources:

Nitrogen: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-260-rising-fertilizer-costs-look-to-history-for-answers/

Phosphorus: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-304-phosphorus-and-the-beauty-of-biology/

Potassium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-323-potassium-from-past-to-present/

Calcium: https://attra.ncat.org/episode-365-calcium-the-premier-soil-nutrient/

Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/overview-of-cover-crops-and-green-manures-2/

Managing Soils for Water: How Five Principles of Soil Health Support Water Infiltration and Storage: https://attra.ncat.org/publication/manage-soil-for-water/

References:

Britannica Science: https://www.britannica.com/science/sulfur

Decades After Clean Air Act, Most Smokestacks Still Lack Scrubbers: https://publicintegrity.org/environment/decades-after-clear-air-act-most-smokestacks-still-lack-scrubbers/

Air Pollution Legislation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leblanc_process

Hell on Earth: The Sulfur Mines of Sicily: https://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/history-culture/10307-hell-on-earth-the-sulfur-mines-of-sicily

Revisiting the role of sulfur in crop production: A narrative review: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154324000504

Sulfur Deficiency: https://www.sulphurinstitute.org/sulphur-in-agriculture/sulphur-deficiency-sources-and-symptoms/