University researchers across the Midwest are continually aiming to better understand soybean nutrition and the important role sulfur plays in the growth and development of high-yielding soybeans. As a leader in ammonium sulfate (AMS) production, AdvanSix is proud to partner with several university and third-party researchers to learn more about how AMS affects soybean plant health and yield potential.
At Purdue University, Associate Professor of Agronomy and Extension Soybean and Small Grains Specialist Shaun Casteel is studying innovative practices, including the application of ammonium sulfate, to maximize the performance of high-yielding soybeans. Casteel’s research demonstrates that an application of AMS increased yields in early planted soybeans in trials conducted in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Because early-planted soybeans are more likely to experience cool and/or wet conditions, they are more likely to benefit from an AMS application than later-planted soybeans. Based on his research, Casteel believes the readily available sulfur and nitrogen from the AMS help the early-planted soybeans overcome challenges related to limited mineralization of soil organic matter and slow growth of soybean roots and nodules.
Other universities are seeing similar results with their AMS trials on soybeans. In 2022, researchers at Iowa State University and the University of Illinois also observed increased yields in areas where AMS was applied compared to untreated acres.
Find more research of the impacts of applying AMS to soybeans at http://soybeans.advansix.com/.