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Could sulfur fertilizers become the next popular category of specialty fertilizers? Author/Source: China Fertilizer Network Date: 2019-11-06 Clicks: 266 Steven teams up with Asia’s largest sulfur producer to enter the domestic market! On November 3rd–4th, Qingdao Steven Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Korea Hobin Sulfur Company – the largest sulfur producer in Asia – held the first \"Diwei Sulfur\" and Fourth Major Element Exchange on Sulfur Summit in Xi’an. Regarding sulfur fertilizers, they remain a niche product in the market; not only are growers not well-informed about them, but distributors as well lack awareness. Yet, given the necessity of sulfur and its specific functions, its future potential cannot be underestimated! The overlooked “sulfur fertilizer”! In current agricultural production, sulfur fertilizers have not received enough attention. What’s less known is that when used properly, sulfur fertilizers can increase crop yields by more than 10% and improve the quality of the crops. Generally, the ratio of nitrogen to sulfur required for the normal growth of crops is approximately 14:1. According to the barrel theory, no matter how much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, sulfur must also be added in order to improve the efficiency of nutrient utilization by the plants. Since the 1960s in our country, as production has increased, large amounts of sulfur in the soil have been removed; the application of sulfur-containing fertilizers has not been timely; coupled with increasing environmental protection pressures and the gradual ban on sulfur-containing fuels, the balance of sulfur in the soil has been disrupted. Coupled with a lack of awareness about sulfur, it has become an underutilized nutrient. In foreign markets, \"sulfur\" is regarded as the fourth most important element; this exchange event organized by Stebit also aims to focus on sulfur as the fourth major element. Research shows that, as a medium-element, sulfur is required in relatively large quantities by most crops, second only to phosphorus, with some crops even requiring more sulfur than phosphorus. In the improvement of saline-alkali soil, sulfur fertilizers play a key role! Qian Fangxun, deputy editor-in-chief of Agri inputs & Market Media, also noted, “Currently, what matters in the agro-inputs market are technical services and product competitiveness. Whether it’s enterprises or distributors, when selecting products, they must consider whether those products can serve as substitutes in markets with strong demand.” ” According to the data shared by Dr. Xu Song from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the global area affected by salinization in 2018 was approximately 1 billion hectares, while in China this figure was around 100 million hectares. Of this amount, 8.2 million hectares were arable land that had been affected by salinization. Salinized soil can cause physiological drought in plants, damage plant tissues, affect normal nutrient absorption in plants, and interfere with the closing of plant stomata, ultimately leading to reduced crop yields. Products that improve saline-alkali soil and ensure the healthy growth of crops have become a market necessity! To address the improvement of saline-alkali soil, Qingdao Steven has conducted numerous experiments on crops such as rice and corn. \"There’s no need to worry about saline-alkali soil – just use ‘Diwei Sulfur’. This product is designed to promote the healthy growth of crops in such soil conditions!\" Currently, in agricultural production, sulfur fertilizers available on the market include gypsum, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and other varieties. While these products possess sulfur-fertilizer properties, those that truly emphasize sulfur as their main component account for only a limited share of the market. Moreover, due to differences in their sources, the quality of sulfur fertilizers varies significantly! Richard, Global Sales Director at Bin Korea, said, “The sources of sulfur fertilizers include natural mining, but such sources often contain heavy metals; further extraction requires more sophisticated processes, which increases production costs. Additionally, the highest quality sulfur fertilizers come from the refining process.” Hobin Sulfur Company is located in southern Korea, surrounded by SK, the world’s second-largest refinery, and S-OIL, the world’s third-largest refinery. Its geographical location provides an advantage that translates into lower production costs, and these costs are not higher than those of sulfur in the Chinese market. “ It is understood that South Korea and Binsulfur Company began sulfur processing in 1981; the quality of their products is excellent, and they are exported to Europe. These products can be delivered directly to farmers without any customs inspections, and the factories are also ready to accept inspections at any time without prior notice. Therefore, the products of South Korea and Binsulfur Company enjoy cost advantages, and their quality is also recognized in the European market. Currently, Steven owns two brands of sulfur: “Diwei Sulfur” and “Longpai Sulfur”. It can be applied either as a base fertilizer or as a top-dressing, and the final product breaks down into particles with sizes ranging from 50 to 200; this results in significant differences in terms of rapid-acting and slow-acting effects. It is reported that 1 kg of sulfur-bentonite can produce 3 kg of H2SO4. Comparison between bottom micro-sulfur and certain sulfur fertilizers in terms of decomposition. The functions of sulfur fertilizers are becoming more evident, and market awareness of them is increasing. Cao Junzheng, sales director at Qingdao Steven, said that bottom micro-sulfur can be used as a pure sulfur fertilizer, as well as a soil conditioner and soil disinfectant. Sulfur not only serves a nutritional function; long-term experiments have also shown that sulfur fertilizers can help resist diseases and suppress bacteria, and they are particularly effective in raising the alkalinity and reducing salinity in soil. In the large ginger-growing areas of Shandong, it has delivered tangible results for farmers in terms of controlling soil-borne diseases such as root rot and white rot; in the potato-growing areas of Inner Mongolia, it can also **reduce the incidence of scab disease**. ” “\"Diwei Sulfur\" and \"Longpai Sulfur\" have the ability to adjust alkalinity and reduce salt content; they can adsorb Na ions in the soil, eliminate the alkaline factors in saline-alkali soils, and thus adjust alkalinity and lower salt levels ； Improving fertilizer utilization can promote the absorption or conversion of NPK fertilizers, thereby enhancing fertilizer efficiency ； Increased production can promote protein synthesis; methionine, cysteine, and cystine are all synthesized with the involvement of the essential element sulfur, which raises protein content and thereby increases yield ； It provides long-term sulfur supplementation; as a medium-element, its unique sulfur formula enables continuous supply of sulfur to the soil, with an effective duration of up to 3-6 months ； To enhance the flavor of agricultural products, sulfur, as a flavor element, can significantly increase the formation of aromatic compounds in crops, thereby improving their unique flavors; this effect is particularly pronounced in spicy crops. At the conference, customers from Shandong, Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and other regions shared the performance of Qingdao Steven’s products on various crops in their respective areas, highlighting the functional properties of sulfur fertilizers. There is also promotion of sulfur fertilizers in the market; however, changing perceptions still requires more people to drive it forward. The pursuit of yield at the expense of quality, especially in an era where agricultural inputs focus on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium while neglecting trace elements, has disrupted the elemental balance in the soil. As research in specialized fields advances, the unique functions of sulfur fertilizers ensure that their market will gradually expand. In the future, will sulfur fertilizers become the next popular category in the specialty fertilizers sector? Additional information: Qingdao Steven Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as Steven Company) is a company dedicated to the introduction of foreign resources, as well as their promotion, sales, and service in the domestic market. South Korea and Pumsul Sulphur Company are the largest sulphur producers in Asia, with their products exported to Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, China, and other countries. In 2018, the two companies collaborated across borders, with Steven introducing its core competitive products to China, selling them through the Diwei Sulfur and Longpai Sulfur product lines.