Absorption of atmospheric sulphur by mustard (Sinapis alba) grown in a glasshouse

Soils and plants can absorb more S than is brought down in rain (Johansson, 1960). Much of the S absorbed from the air by light sandy soils (Mann, 1955) during the autumn, winter and spring is lost by leaching and only that absorbed by soil during crop growth can be used. The crop can also absorb atmospheric S directly through the leaves; the amounts may be larger than soils supply when crops have a leaf-area index larger than 1 (Olsen, 1957; Spedding, 1969).