Agricultural sulphur: what benefits does its use provide in fruit crops?

• The application of microgranulated sulphur is highly effective in preventing and controlling powdery mildew in fruit crops.
• In addition, sulphur soil amendments not only promote nutrient uptake through the roots, but also help improve agricultural soil conditions by reducing its pH and salinity.

Fruit crops, both stone and pome fruits, are exposed to endemic diseases in our country such as powdery mildew, including Sphaerotheca pannosa and Podosphaera tridactyla in stone fruits and Podosphaera leucotricha in pome fruits.

In this regard, foliar application of microgranulated sulphur-based plant protection treatments, such as Azumo Mg and Azumo Mg Jed, delivers excellent preventive and curative results in reducing the activity of fungi and mites during the growth and ripening stages.

Likewise, the main advantage of microgranulated sulphur compared with other alternatives on the market lies in its multi-site mode of action and its excellent compatibility with other fungicide treatments, helping to significantly reduce the development of resistance.

Similarly, the application of sulphur for agricultural use to the soil is becoming an increasingly recommended practice in fruit crops in our region, largely due to the gradual depletion of naturally occurring sulphur in the soil.

Thus, periodic sulphur amendments, particularly using products such as Organosul 20S or Microsul 40S, not only provide soil-improving benefits, but also help reduce soil pH, salinity and conductivity, creating optimal conditions for the tree to naturally absorb essential micronutrients required for proper growth and development.

Likewise, if the plant is experiencing abiotic stress once fruit set has occurred, it is also advisable to consider applying biostimulants containing selected amino acids to support the tree’s recovery. One such solution is Triumphalis, based on AFEPASA’s exclusive SULTECH™ technology.

Ultimately, as with so many other crops, whether under conventional or organic farming systems, the application of sulphur-based solutions is an excellent choice for creating the best possible conditions for optimal fruit tree growth and, likewise, for proper fruit development.