Sulphur guide
Sulphur is a secondary nutrient the crop needs to build proteins, to make oil in oilseeds, to form chlorophyll and to use nitrogen well. A...
Read the full guideSulphur for oilseeds and pulses: oil, protein and the urea-DAP gap
Why oilseeds and pulses need sulphur for oil and protein, why fields fed only urea and DAP run short, and the common ways to supply it.
Oilseeds need sulphur to make oil and pulses need it to make protein and fix nitrogen. Fields fed for years with urea, DAP and MOP, which carry no sulphur, often run short. Gypsum, single superphosphate, ammonium sulphate, bentonite sulphur and manure all supply it.
By Gafar Laiya and the Gujarat Bio Organics team. Updated November 2026.
Why the gap opened
- High-analysis fertilizers without sulphur replaced older sulphur-carrying ones.
- Less farmyard manure is used.
- Higher yields remove more sulphur each season.
Sulphur sources compared
| Source | Also supplies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gypsum | Calcium | Suits most soils; also used for groundnut at pegging |
| Single superphosphate | Phosphorus, calcium | Can replace part of DAP where sulphur is short |
| Ammonium sulphate | Nitrogen | Acidifying; suits alkaline soils |
| Bentonite or elemental sulphur | Nothing else | Slow release; lowers pH a little |
| Manure and compost | Many nutrients | Builds soil over time |
What to do
- Test the soil for available sulphur.
- Choose a source that fits the rest of your fertilizer plan.
- Apply at or before sowing for oilseeds and pulses.
Read more
Doses depend on the crop, soil and product, so this page gives methods, not amounts. Take the dose from your soil test report, the product label or your local agriculture officer or KVK. Results differ from farm to farm with soil, weather, crop and management. Farmer experiences on this site are their own reports, not a promise of results.
Read next
Sulphur deficiency symptoms crop by crop
How sulphur deficiency looks in mustard, groundnut, soybean, pulses, onion, cereals, sugarcane and tea, and how to tell it from nitrogen shortage.
Read the full guideHow Gujarat Bio Organics can help
Since 2006, lakhs of farmers from Kashmir to Kanyakumari have used Immunity products on almost every crop: from the mango farms around Somnath to the apple orchards of Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, the tea estates of Assam and Darjeeling, and the banana, coconut and cardamom farms of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Each Special is one formula made for one crop and its common problems. Tell us your crop, soil test and what you see, and our team will tell you what to check, whether a micronutrient correction is needed, and which Special fits your programme.
- Groundnut (Mungfali) guide and Immunity Mungfali (Groundnut) Special
- Pulses guide and Immunity Pulses Special
- Onion guide and Immunity Onion Special
- Sugarcane guide and Immunity Sugarcane Special
- Tea guide and Immunity Tea Special
- Wheat and cereals guide and Immunity Dhanya Special
Results differ from farm to farm with soil, weather, crop and management. Farmer experiences on this site are their own reports, not a promise of results.
Questions
Does sulphur increase oil content?
Sulphur is needed for oil formation, so correcting a shortage helps the crop make oil. Results vary with soil and season.
Can I use SSP instead of DAP?
SSP supplies phosphorus with sulphur and calcium. Ask your agriculture officer how to balance it for your crop.