Collaborative studies from Tessenderlo Kerley and Auburn Univ. have shown thiosulfates inhibit nitrification while providing essential sulfur. This is increasingly important as farmers push for higher yields on less acreage, and with increased plant populations.

“What that equates to is the need for increased rates of sulfur to feed the plants and produce higher yields,” says Dr. Zack Ogles, manager of agronomy at Tessenderlo Kerley, adding there is also an important environmental component. “Any way we can contribute to reducing nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilization and potentially nitrous oxide emissions is beneficial to the environment and to growers.”

Ammonium volatilization can occur in soils with a high pH or especially when urea N is used. Losses can be significant — up to 20% in some cases.

Ogles says thiosulfate products, such as those Tessenderlo Kerley has on the market, can reduce ammonia volatilization losses. They can also slow the conversion of ammonium N to nitrate, which can reduce the amount of N lost through leaching or denitrification.

N application to certain crops, like corn, can have a direct correlation to yield. 

“If you fertilize for a specific yield and you lose a percentage of the nitrogen you’re applying, that’s money that’s not going to yield, and it’s not going to be realized by the farmer,” Ogles says.

To learn more about these studies and the effects that thiosulfate can have on your farm, read John Dobberstein’s article “The Case for Using Thiosulfate to Protect Your N Source” featured in the July 2026 Issue of No-Till Farmer.