Sulphur deficiency symptoms in cereals will often, from a distance, resemble nitrogen deficiency, in that plants will have pale green to yellow leaves present.

Closer inspection will reveal that with sulphur deficient plants the yellow leaves will be the youngest leaves, unlike nitrogen deficiency which affects the oldest leaves.

Similar symptoms are present in clover plants in that yellow leaves are present and when the deficiency becomes severe, the leaves will stand upright with a ‘cupped’ appearance. Oilseed rape plants, which have a high requirement for sulphur, have slightly different symptoms of deficiency. The leaves will ‘curl’ and whilst the leaves will turn yellow the veins will show a marked red to purple colouration.