The Sherman Station reported a total precipitation of .44 inches, almost one-third an inch below normal. Crop year total at the Station is at 8.47 inches, .91 below the 90-year average for the year. This question came up several times this spring, so this may be a good time to review your options for choosing either elemental sulfur or some form of sulfate.
Sulfur is an important nutrient for fertilizer programs.
Our soil tests don't always show a need for extra sulfur, but experience and research has demonstrated that we can get a yield response to additional sulfur. Wasco and Sherman Counties have a better response to sulfur than have other counties to the east of us, even with the same soil test results. For plants to take up sulfur, it needs to be in the sulfate form. Applying elemental sulfur is okay, but remember that it will first have to be converted to sulfate before it can be used. The speed of conversion is dependent on soil microbial activity levels, the particle size of the sulfur, soil temperature and soil moisture.