Sulfur application in the past has been targeted to alfalfa, corn, canola, and small grains. Normally the yield or growth response has occurred when responsive crops are grown on sandy soils or eroded knobs with a silt loam texture. The soil test for S has not been reliable for predicting S needs on soils that are not sandy in texture. Minnesota currently uses texture to base S recommendations.

Today sulfur needs may have changed. Some of the reasons for this is a greater occurrence of reduced tillage systems and less sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. Ninety-five percent of the sulfur in the soil is found in the organic matter. The rest comes from sources such as the atmosphere and irrigation water.