On sandy Coastal Plain soils, where the clay layer is below 15 inches, sulfur deficiency occurs much more frequently than in other soils across North Carolina. Sandy soils are lower in sulfur content due to low organic matter in the soil. The heavy rains of the fall and early winter have moved existing sulfur out of the root zone. Proper amounts of sulfur cannot be found in rainfall, high analysis fertilizers or nitrogen fertilizers. This means present conditions are optimal for sulfur deficiency.
Sulfur is essential for converting plant nitrogen to proteins.
If sulfur is low, plant growth and yield will be significantly reduced. The visual symptoms of sulfur and nitrogen deficiencies are similar. In both cases, plants are yellowed and stunted. Symptoms of a sulfur deficiency, however, generally appear in the upper part of the plant in newly developing leaves. If the deficiency is severe, the entire plant will turn yellow.