Different field surveys have shown that sulphur (S) fertilization can increase the resistance of agricultural crops against fungal pathogens. The mechanisms of this sulphur-induced resistance (SIR) are, however, not yet known. Volatile S compounds are thought to play an important role because H(2)S is toxic to fungi. A field experiment was conducted to analyse the influence of S fertilization a...

This chapter provides information on some recent developments of fertilizer production and use that improve nutrient efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The nutrients discussed are mainly N, P, and S. Improving N nutrient efficiency includes use of (1) controlled-release coated urea products, (2) slowrelease urea–aldehyde polymer products, (3) urea supergranules for deep placement, (4...

Tracking information about fertilizers consumption in the world is very important since they are used to produce agriculture commodities. Brazil consumes a large amount of fertilizers due to its large-scale agriculture fields. Most of these fertilizers are currently imported. The analysis of consumption of major fertilizers, such as Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium (NPK), Sulfur, Phosphate Rock, P...

In order to increase the concentration of the nutritionally essential sulphur amino acids in seed protein, a transgene encoding a methionine- and cysteine-rich protein, sunflower seed albumin (SSA), was transferred to chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L). Transgenic seeds that accumulated SSA contained more methionine and less oxidized sulphur than the controls, suggesting that additional demand for s...

Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur are essential elements in all living matter and are found in varying proportions to carbon, depending on the chemical nature of the compounds in which they occur. A pattern for the circulation of these elements in nature developed when microorganisms, plants and animals appeared on earth. The pattern was set by the physical and chemical environment, by the chemi...

Conversion of sulphur compounds in reduced, contaminated sediments that are brought in upland conditions may largely affect the potential mobility of heavy metal contaminants. We applied selected methods for the determination of total sulphur and sulphur fractions in a contaminated sediment in the reduced state and after gradual drying and oxidation during 1 month. Dry ashing, followed by ion c...

Sulphur in coil1 is il major environmental concern. The use of coal for combustion requires the control of sulphur dioxide emissions. To reduce these emissions, the total solphur content in c~ial product ~must he decreased. This can he accomplished by using low-sulphur coal. cleaning coal prior to combustion. retaining sulphw during wmhustion. or hy treatment of tlur gases after combustion. The...

Oxidative scrubbing is used to remove H2S from gas streams. A key problem in regeneration of the absorbent is the removal of fine particles of sulphur from the suspension of the scrubbing liquid. Dispersions of ultra-fine bubbles have been called "colloidal gas aphrons" or aphrons for short. These dispersions have interesting properties and it was found that they have particular advantages in t...

The present investigation deals with the role of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria and chemical fertilizers alone or in combination on urease, invertase and phosphatase activities of rhizospheric soil and also on general impact on growth of safflower cvv. Thori and Saif-32. The PGPR (Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter vinelandii) were applied at 10cells/mL as seed inoculation prior to s...

Iron-sulphur clusters are one of the most common types of redox centre in biology. At least six proteins (IscS, IscU, IscA, HscB, HscA and ferredoxin) have been identified as being essential for the biogenesis of iron-sulphur proteins in bacteria. It has been shown that IscS is a cysteine desulphurase that provides sulphur for iron-sulphur clusters, and that IscU is a scaffold for the IscS-medi...