COLUMBUS, Ohio – New research at The Ohio State University showed the benefits of applying sulfur-containing fertilizers (or sulfur fertilization) and small doses of salicylic acid to soil increases soybean yields – especially in challenging growing conditions.

“Soybeans are planted on about 86.5 million acres,” said Rafiq Islam, Ohio State soil and bioenergy leader, who led the research. “Yearly increases in soybean yields have been flat and with lower prices. Farmers are looking for ways to get higher yields. Hot weather, drought, flooding and other environmental issues have caused soybean yields to stagnate.”

Using research funds from the Ohio Soybean Council, Islam investigated salicylic acid, which he said helps crops tolerate drought and stress by more efficiently regulating stomatal closure (water loss from leaves), transpiration, and proline biosynthesis (an amino acid which helps proteins to form).

He said one growing concern for soybean cultivation is soil sulfur deficiency, due to reduced atmospheric sulfur deposition and limited sulfur in fertilizers.

“Sulfur is crucial for nitrogen fixation (the process by which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by either a natural or an industrial means to a form of nitrogen such as ammonia), amino acid synthesis, and protein formation – key factors for healthy soybean growth,” he said.

“A promising solution comes from flue gas desulfurized gypsum (a byproduct of coal-fired power plants),” he added. “This material offers a cost-effective source of both sulfur and calcium, improving soil health and soybean productivity, particularly in drought-prone areas like Ohio.”

According to the study, salicylic acid helps crops handle stress by improving water regulation, protein-building amino acids, and reducing water loss, and it can increase soybean yields by 8 percent to 46 percent, while sulfur fertilization alone boosted yields up to 53 percent.

Both treatments improved stress resilience, with sulfur helping nitrogen fixation and protein formation, especially in sulfur-deficient soils. The study also found increases in key amino acids, and examined the impact of sulfur and salicylic acid on soybean fatty acid composition.

Tom Fontana, Ohio Soybean Council director of research and education, told Farm World, “The Ohio Soybean Council looks to invest the farmer funds to the benefit of the state’s soybean farmers in the areas of research, marketing, communication and education.”

He said the Ohio Soybean Council sends out a request for proposals to interested parties prior to each of the four quarterly board meetings.

“In response to the request for proposal, we receive proposals for projects that need to align with our board’s strategic plan,” he said. “These proposals are reviewed by staff and our farmer board members to determine alignment with the Ohio Soybean Council strategies, and whether they will benefit soybean farmers. Funding available for projects is also an important consideration.”

“At each quarterly board meeting, the farmer board makes the decision on which projects to fund with the resources available,” he said. “This is the process that Dr. Islam went through to receive his funding.”