SHELL ThioGRO
Agronomy research
Crop and pasture field trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of sulphur-enhanced
fertilizer produced with Shell Thiogro technology. Recognising the agricultural issue
of sulphur-deficiency in soils, these trials have been conducted in diverse countries,
climates and soil types.
The outcome is an aggregate
of data that demonstrates the
effectiveness of Shell Thiogro
technology:
To safely “micronise” elemental sulphur
into fine particles which are then
effectively oxidised in soils to sulphate,
the plant nutrient form of soil sulphur
To customise the amount of elemental and
sulphate sulphur as needed for particular
crops and regions
To effectively incorporate these particles
into ammonium phosphate and triple
superphosphate fertilizer granules in
a way that resists breaking up during
transport and application.
Fertilizer made with Shell
Thiogro technology, produced
a weighted mean yield
increase of 18%, averaged
over 118 sulphur responsive
sites in four countries*
The benefits of sulphur-enhanced
fertilizer on yield and other crop
attributes is timely, given pressures
to produce more food1 in a way
that does not encroach on forests
and other natural areas:
Crop yields
Tomato yield increased 9% in China
field trials conducted by a grower for the
world’s largest producer of tomato-based
pastes and sauces
In China, a fertilizer producer has noted
a yield increase of 11% in rice
Clovers are important in animal nutrition;
a 98% increase in annual clover
production with Shell Thiogro-produced
fertilizer has been recorded in
temperate Australia
Soybean yields increased an average of
18% with Shell Thiogro-produced fertilizer
in eight field trials in Brazil.
1. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that
70% more food must be produced by 2050 to feed the world’s
growing population.
More findings
Field trials, like other scientific experiments,
are replicated within sites, over seasons
and planting areas, before drawing firm
conclusions. With nearly six years of
trials – mostly in China – along with the
growing body of knowledge on sulphur as
an essential plant nutrient, Shell has learned:
Sulphur deficiency limits crop yields in
many important food-producing areas
of the world
Incorporation of fast and slow release
sulphur into ammonium phosphate and
triple superphosphate fertilizers provides
better-balanced nutrition to crops
The sulphur in Shell Thiogro-produced
fertilizer may result in increased efficiency
of utilisation of the other fertilizer plant
nutrients; especially, nitrogen and
phosphorus
In some cash crops, both yield and quality
have increased following Shell Thiogroproduced fertilizer application
In Australia, Shell Thiogro-produced
fertilizer application improved the quantity
and quality of animal forage thanks
to the resultant increase in clover content
Laboratory and glasshouse tests have
shown that the micro-fine particle size
of the elemental sulphur readily oxidises
to plant-available sulphate
Collaboration with the best research and
production groups in the various countries
has resulted in reliable, verifiable and
important findings about sulphur.
*Shell Thiogro field trial research, July 2010.
Field Trials have been conducted or are underway in various parts of the world known
for sulphur-deficient soils; Australia, Brazil, China, India and Argentina. We work with
universities, government agencies, larger farming operations and fertilizer producers
(the latter being potential Shell Thiogro technology licensees) to carry out the trials.
Shell has also co-sponsored trials with The Sulphur Institute.
Shell Thiogro field testing in China
An average rice yield increase of 13% was obtained with Shell Thiogroproduced fertilizer at 21 sulphur responsive sites in China.
Heilongjiang
Liaoning
Xingjiang
7,200
Gansu
7,000
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Jilin
Nei Mongol
Rice, China
Hebei
Shanxi
Qinghai
Sichuan
Jiangsu
Henan
Shahnxi
Xizang
(Tibet)
6,600
Shandong
Ningxia
6,800
Hubei
Chongqing
Anhui
Jiangxi
6,400
Hunan
Fujian
Guizhou
6,200
Yunnan
Guangxi
6,000
Zhejiang
Guangdong
5,800
MAP
Shell Thiogro
Shell Thiogro field trials include a variety of crops in these locations.
Shell Thiogro field testing in Brazil
Soybean yields increased by an average of 18% with Shell Thiogroproduced fertilizer at eight sulphur responsive trial sites in Brazil.
Roraima
Amapá
Amazonas
Soybean, Brazil
2,900
Maranhão
Ceará
Piaui
Acre
2,800
Grain yield (kg/ha)
Para
Rondónia
Tocantiins
Mato Grosso
2,700
Paraiba
Pernambuco
Bahia
Goiás
2,600
Mato Grosso
Do Sul
2,500
2,400
Minas
Gerais
São Paulo
Paraná
2,300
Santa Catarina
2,200
MAP
Rio Grande
Do Sul
Shell Thiogro
Shell Thiogro field trials include a variety of crops in these locations.
Shell Thiogro field testing in Australia
A 98% increase in clover production with Shell Thiogroproduced fertilizer has been recorded in temperate Australia.
Northern
Territory
Clover Pasture, Australia
3,500
Western
Australia
Clover yield (kg/ha)
3,000
2,500
2,000
1,500
South
Australia
Queensland
New South
Wales
Victoria
1,000
Tazmania
500
0
MAP
Shell Thiogro
For further information
please contact:
[email protected]
www.shell.com/sulphur/thiogro
The Shell emblem, SHELL and Thiogro are trade marks of the Shell Group.
07/2010/65
Shell Thiogro field trials include a variety of crops in these locations.