Sulfur
Basic Facts About Sulfur
Name: Sulfur
Symbol: S
Atomic Number: 16
Atomic Mass: 32.066 amu
Melting Point: 112.8 °C (385.95 K,
235.04001 °F)
Boiling Point: 444.6 °C (717.75 K,
832.28 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 16
Number of Neutrons: 16
Classification: Non-metal
Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic
Density @ 293 K: 2.07 g/cm3
Color: yellow
Date of Discovery: Known to the
ancients
Discoverer: Unknown
Atomic Structure
In it’s pure elemental form, sulfur is a bright yellow crystal. The word sulfur originates
from the Latin word sulfurium which means brimstone. Typically, elemental sulfur can be
found near hot springs and volcanic regions. Sulfur production today is
generally a side product of other industrial processes such as oil refining
and natural gas production.
Best wishes to you and your
family this holiday season.
May you be blessed with joy and
warm memories!
Sulfur in...
Soil
Plants
 Receives sulfur from
 Excess sulfur in tree
airborne particles,
crops will cause uneven
weathering of minerals
ripening and fruit to rot
in the soil and
before it ripens
microbial activity
 Sulfur in soil is generally
 Helps to maintain soil
in sulfate form and
energy during wet
microbes change it to
growing conditions
sulfide compounds that
 Excessive amounts in
enter the soil solution
the soil will cause
and can be taken up by
dehydration due to
roots for growth
overheating
 Needed for the
 Needed for the
synthesis of protein and
metabolism of
oils
nitrogen
Living Body
 Sulfur represents about 0.25%
of our total body weight
 In the body, most sulfur is
found in the proteins although
it is distributed in small
amounts in all cells and tissues
 Plays a role in enzyme
functions and protein synthesis
 Necessary in the formation of
collagen, which is the
connective tissue in the body
 Present in keratin which gives
strength, shape and hardness to
skin, hair and nails
 Sulfur is important to cellular
respiration as it’s needed in the
oxidation-reduction reactions
that help the cells utilize
oxygen
Today is a new day. Don’t let your history interfere with your destiny. Let today be the day you stop
being a victim of your circumstances and start taking action towards the life you want. - Steve Maraboli
B T Y R A n n u a l P r o d u c e r ’s C o n f e r e n c e
‘ Ca r p e D i e m’
Plan to attend two days of informative and thought
inspiring presentations. This is also a great
opportunity to network with other producers that share
the same goals, questions and experiences.
Keynote Speakers
Glen Rabenberg
Dr. Thomas Dykstra
Jay McCaman
Christopher Kniffen
Christine George
John Albright
Where: Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon SK
When: February 3rd & 4th, 2014
(Seize The Day)
Early bird registration!
All complete participant registrations
received at the office by January 5, 2014
will be entered to win one free night
accommodation at the Saskatoon Inn during the 2014
conference.
To reserve your room call toll free 1-800-667-8789
or online at https://reservations.ihotelier.com/crs/
g_reservation.cfm?groupID=1131241&hotelID=6876
Conference registration can be mailed, faxed or
call the office 306-747-4744
Volume 3, Issue 4
December 2013
President’s Message
Merry Christmas! Season’s Greetings!
Happy Holidays!
It is my wish that each and every one of you
has a very happy, healthy and prosperous
2014. Travel safe to all your destinations,
spend time with those that matter, and be
kind to all you encounter.
As this year closes, I would like to thank all of our customers
for your patronage, your support, and your friendship. We
have had a successful year, and look forward to 2014 to
continue the research, the growth and the quest for healthier
food.
This issue of our newsletter focuses on the “terrible trio” of
electrolyte minerals – Potassium, Magnesium and Sulfur.
Each brings its own set of characteristics that are needed in the
production of healthy crops, gardens and forage, but so often
used in quantities that eventually lead to complications in the
soil and overall health of the plant.
Take a look, figure out what they do, and remember that the
balance in the soil starts with available calcium and phosphate.
Don’t forget to get your registrations in for the conference!
Saskatchewan
Gary Bertoia – Unity
306-228-2568
Byron Bertoia – Unity
306-228-9955
Roger Puetz – Humboldt
306-682-3520
Greg & Cathy Taylor–Parkman
306-739-2605
Gillian Thiessen -Saskatoon
306-242-8398
Brent Stumph – Wroxton
306-742-4454
Craig Perkin – Rouleau
306-776-2201
Alberta
Ken Braim – Nampa
780-322-2878
Greg Moline - Leduc
780-902-1234
Manitoba
Ron & Linda Catt – Austin
204-723-2831
Nick Boundy – Manitou
204-534-6451
Tim Mueller – Minitonas
204-525-4567
Lorne Muller –Minitonas
204-525-2262
British Columbia
Darcy Goodrich - Rock Creek
250-446-2864
Take care out there!
Cindy Nikolaisen, President
Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of
generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our
landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.
- James H. Douglas
Head Office
Back To Your Roots Soil Solutions
101A Railway Ave.
Shellbrook, SK S0J 2E0
Tel: 306-747-4744
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.back-to-your-roots.com
POTASSIUM
Magnesium
Potassium is represented by the letter K on the periodic table. This is the first letter in
Kalium which is the Latin word for potassium. It’s a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in
the air, and as a result does not occur in nature in its elemental form. Potassium is contained in various compounds that make up the earth’s crust
and is attributed to approximately 2.6% of the crust weight. There are many uses for compounds containing potassium, including fertilizers, a
neutralizer for acids, industrial cleaners, hydrolysis reactions, the oxidant in gunpowder, manufacturing of glass, soap, fluorescent lamps, and
textile dyes. KO2 (potassium superoxide) is an orange solid that acts as a portable source of oxygen and a carbon dioxide absorber. It is widely used
in respiration systems in mines, submarines and spacecraft as it takes less volume than gaseous oxygen.
Basic Facts About Potassium
Name: Potassium
Symbol: K
Atomic Number: 19
Atomic Mass: 39.0983 amu
Melting Point: 63.65 °C (336.8 K,
146.57 °F)
Boiling Point: 774.0 °C (1047.15
K, 1425.2 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 19
Number of Neutrons: 20
Classification: Alkali Metal
Crystal Structure: Cubic
Density @ 293 K: 0.862 g/cm3
Color: silvery
Date of Discovery: 1807
Discoverer: Sir Humphrey Davy
Atomic Structure
The word Magnesium originated from the Greek word Magnesia, which is a
district of Thessaly. Magnesium was first discovered by a chemist named Joseph Black in 1755 but not
isolated as an element until 1808 by Humphrey Davy. Elemental magnesium is a strong, silvery white metal that tarnishes slightly when
exposed to air, but it remains protected by a thin layer oxide that is difficult to remove and is relatively impermeable. Magnesium is highly
flammable but only in thin strips or powdered form. In the powdered form it was used in the early days of photography as a source of
illumination. Today, the powdered Mg is used in the manufacturing of fireworks and marine flares as it produces a vivid white light when
ignited. China is responsible for providing approximately 80% of the world demand for magnesium.
Potassium in...
Soil
 The ratio of phosphate to
potassium in the soil
should be 2:1
 Cold or compacted soils
often reduce the
availability of potassium
 As soil drainage improves,
potassium uptake typically
improves
 Saline soils often have
excess sodium which
reduces availability of
potassium
 Potassium chloride should
not be used as chloride is
harmful to biological life in
the soil
 Potassium deficiency is
extremely rare

Plants
 It determines the thickness
of the leaf and the stem
 It determines the number of
fruit that sets on a plant; it’s
the binder that holds the
fruit to the stem
 It determines the size of the
fruit
 Excess potassium shows
symptoms of blight, small
black spots on the edges of
the leaves and along the
stems. These lesions open
the way for other infections
to develop
Magnesium in...
Basic Facts About Magnesium
Living Body
Soil
Plants
Living Body
 Necessary for the function of all
living cells
 Crucial to cardiovascular and nerve
functions
 Regulates the water balance and the
acid-base balance in the blood and
tissues
 Participates in the synthesis of
protein and energy metabolism
 Plays a role in the synthesis of
protein from amino acids in the cell
 Functions in carbohydrate
metabolism, is active in glycogen
and glucose metabolism, converts
glucose to glycogen that can be
stored in the liver for future energy
 Excess quantities can
cause soil compaction and
loss of aeration
 Magnesium will react
with nitrogen so that
nitrogen will be released
out of the soil
 Magnesium aids in
phosphorous uptake
 Low soil temperature can
hinder magnesium
availability
 The metallic ion at the
center of chlorophyll
 Necessary for the
production of chlorophyll
 Increases protein and
enzyme production and
aids in energy released in
cells
 An activator of enzymes in
carbohydrate metabolism
 Helps in the uptake of
phosphorous
 Magnesium is a cofactor in more
than 300 enzyme systems that
regulate diverse biochemical
reactions including protein
synthesis, muscle and nerve
function, blood glucose control and
blood pressure regulation
 Required for energy production,
oxidative phosphorylation (an
enzymatic process in cell
metabolism that synthesizes ATP
from ADP) and glycolysis (the
breakdown of glucose by enzymes)
 Average adult body contains
approximately 25 grams of
magnesium with 50-60% present in
the bones
Name: Magnesium
Symbol: Mg
Atomic Number: 12
Atomic Mass: 24.305 amu
Melting Point: 650.0 °C (923.15 K,
1202.0 °F)
Boiling Point: 1107.0 °C (1380.15 K,
2024.6 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 12
Number of Neutrons: 12
Classification: Alkaline Earth
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Density @ 293 K: 1.738 g/cm3
Color: grayish
Date of Discovery: 1808
Discoverer: Sir Humphrey Davy
Atomic Structure
Roots
All vascular vegetation possesses a root system. Although unseen and often forgotten in most
plants, healthy roots are crucial to the development of a healthy plant. Roots anchor the
plant in the soil, absorb water and nutrients, conduct water and nutrients and are a
source of food storage. Some plants go to great lengths to gain access to nutrients and water
in the soil. A prominent Italian-American scientist Cesare Emiliani found that “A single
plant of winter rye, 50 cm high, was found to have a root system consisting of 143 main
roots, 35,600 secondary roots, 2.3 million tertiary roots, and 11.5 million quaternary roots!
The root system was found to have a total length of 600 km and a total surface of about 250
square meters".
Root systems include the primary root, lateral root, root hairs, root tip and a root cap. Each
part plays an intricate role in the health and longevity of the growing plant. The primary and
lateral roots are the first to emerge on a seedling after germination. Their roles are to anchor the plant in the soil as well as water
and nutrient uptake. Root hairs branch off these roots, are responsible for water and nutrient uptake, and they secrete acid which
exchanges and helps solubilized minerals into ionic form to be used by the plant. They are not visible to the naked eye and
generally only last a couple of days or weeks before they wither and die. Once they die they provide food for beneficial soil
fungi which in turn provide food to the plant. The root tip and cap are present to protect the delicate tissues while the root moves
between the soil particles in search of water and nutrients. The root cap also produces mucilage that lubricates the root
movement between soil particles, it helps increase the root’s ability to absorb water and aids in the uptake of nutrient ions in the
surrounding soil. Soil PSI needs to be under 300 in order for feeder roots to grow in the soil.
This is an efficient system dependent on an environment that is beneficial to all factors especially microbiology and balanced
minerals. Unnatural additives and chemicals can cause bacteria to go dormant, which causes a ripple effect of disruption to the
entire system and functionality of the plant. With roots, out of sight should not be out of mind.
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February 3 & 4, 2014.
Educating yourself does not mean that you were stupid in the first place; it means
that you are intelligent enough to know that there is plenty left to learn.
- Melanie Joy