Martin Torres Duggan presented on sulphur fertilizer use and market opportunities in Brazil and Argentina. Brazil accounts for 76% of South America's fertilizer consumption, while Argentina accounts for 60% of consumption in the Southern Cone region. Both countries widely use nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers, and sulphur fertilization is becoming increasingly important. Current sulphur consumption is around 1 million metric tons in Brazil and 120-130,000 metric tons in Argentina. Trends show increasing demand for bulk blends, compound fertilizers, and sulphur-enhanced fertilizers in both countries.

1. Outlook and Update on Sulphur Fertilizer Use
in Brazil, Argentina and Other Southern
Cone Countries
Martin Torres Duggan; Tecnoagro S.R.L.
• Senior Consultant with Tecnoagro S.R.L.
• Agronomic Engineer degree, a Soil Fertility Specialization
degree and a Master of Science in Soil Science from the
University of Buenos Aires.
• Has published many technical and divulgation articles related
to soil fertility and nutrient management
• Participated in soil fertility and fertilization management
research with the National Institute of Agricultural Technology
Presented by Martin Torres Duggan at The Sulphur Institute's (TSI)
Sulphur World Symposium on April 11-14, 2011 in New York, New York USA
Martin Torres Duggan - Page 1 of 5

2. An Outlook and Update on Sulphur Fertilization Outline
Management Practices and Market Opportunities in Brazil
and Argentina.
1. Overview of fertilizer use.
Martín Torres Duggan1 & Mónica B. Rodríguez2
1. Tecnoagro S.R.L (Argentina). mtorresduggan@tecnoagro.com.ar
2. University of Buenos Aires (Argentina). 2. Current sulphur fertilization management on
cropping systems.
3. Sulphur fertilizer trends and outlook.
Brazil and Argentina fertilizer consumption
Fertilizer Consumption in Southern Cone countries
Uru gu ay; 9%
Brazil 76% of South America Parag uay;
fertilizer consumption 10,58%
Southern Cone region
Bolivia
Paraguay Ch ile ; 19,35% Arg e n tin a; 60%
Pacific Ocean
Argentina
Boliv ia; 0,94%
Chile
Uruguay
60% of Southern Cone
fertilizer consumption
Atlantic Ocean
The overall fertilizer consumption is about 2.83 million MT
(N+P2O5+K2O)
Adapted from García & Salvagiotti (2009)
Presented by Martin Torres Duggan at The Sulphur Institute's (TSI)
Sulphur World Symposium on April 11-14, 2011 in New York, New York USA
Martin Torres Duggan - Page 2 of 5

3. Is sulphur important in Brazilian Agriculture? What about sulphur in Argentine agriculture?
Soil fertility constraints in Brazil
Major soils are tropical and Most “Pampas” soils are S-
sub-tropical deficient
Most soils are S deficient S is applied together with N and P.
Widespread N, P and K fertilization
High restriction
About 40%- 50% of cropped land
Restrictive
Moderate restrictive receives S fertilization
Low restrictions
S fertilization has recently Without restriction
received more attention
Only 40% of S removed in grains
Impressive extension: is replenished by fertilization
Yield responses to S application: 8.5 million km2!
11% - 41%. Pampas region
Image from Roberts, 2009. Image adapted from Darwich (2005), Lavado & Taboada, 2009
Current sulphur management in Brazil & Argentina Is there any doubt about Brazilian fertilizer potential?
Sources Austria Hungary Rumania Holland Lituania Italy Poland Estonia
Checoslovaquia Duluth
Mato Grosso
France
AS, SPS and gypsum Irlanda Greece
Belgium Ukraine
Albania Bosnia Des Moines
Columbus
Croacia
New “Sulphur Enhanced Fertilizers” Portugal
Spain
Macedonia CornOeste (E. U. A)
Meio belt (USA)
Bulgaria Iceland
UK Yugoslavia
Nashville
Germany Norway
Clear upward trend towards bulk blends and “multi-nutrient” fertilizers Letonia Finland
Switzerland
Denmark
Bielo Rússia
Sweden
Image from Coelho (John Deere, 2001).
S rates
Fonte: J. L. Coelho, John Deere, 2001.
Image from Coelho (John Deere, 2001). Fonte: J. L. Coelho, John Deere, 2001.
Index
Brazil (10-20 to 40 kg/ha of S) 500
Index 100= 72/73
450
53,1 million MT
400 1,75 million MT
Argentina (15-20 kg/ha of S) 350
300
Crop production
250
Application methods 200
150 02/03
Fertilizer consumption 182,6 million MT
Brazil: higher agronomic effiency when S is banded (at sowing) 100
(N-P2O5-K2O) 7,68 million MT
50
0
Argentina: broadcast = banded = topdressing. 70/71 75/76 80/81 85/86 90/91 95/96 00/01 08/09
08/09
Ano
Fonte: ANDA,from Lopez et al. (2007) and Da Cunha (2010)
Adapted FIBGE, 2003.
Presented by Martin Torres Duggan at The Sulphur Institute's (TSI)
Sulphur World Symposium on April 11-14, 2011 in New York, New York USA
Martin Torres Duggan - Page 3 of 5

4. What about Argentine fertilizer potential? Current sulphur consumption and prospects
1400
Brazil Forecast ~4% of annual growth
Sulphur Consumption (x 1000 MT)
1200
Crop production (x 1000 ton)
1000
Current S consumption 800
~ 1 million MT of S
Continuous Soy 600
Sugarcane Cotton
Continuous Soy Wheat/Soy 400
Soy – Corn Sunflower/Soy Pastures
Wheat/Soy Rice - Pastures
200
Soy - Rice
Continuous Soy 0
Wheat/Soy 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2015
Pastures
Corn – Wheat/Soy
Continuous Soy
Corn – Soy - Wheat/Soy
Corn - Soy
Pastures
180
Wheat – Sunflower Forecast ~15-18% of annual growth
Corn – Wheat/Soy Argentina
Sulphur Consumption (x 1000 MT)
160
Corn – Soy - Wheat
140
Pastures
Wheat – Sunflower Current S consumption 120
Wheat – Barley
Wheat - Fallow ~ 120-130.000 MT of S 100
Corn – Soy - Wheat 80
60
40
20
Image from Garcia, IPNI (Southern Cone).
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2015
IPNI, Southern Cone (from Fertilizar AC).
What about other Southern Cone countries?
250000 Chile
Uruguay 450000
Nutrient Consumption (MT)
200000
400000
Nutrient Consumption (m tons)
Stabilized fertilizer consumption
350000
Upward trend in fertilizer 150000 (“Mature” market). 300000
consumption. 250000
100000
200000
50000 Current fertilizer consumption: 150000
Current fertilizer consumption: 532.000 MT (N+P2O5+K2O). 100000
0 50000
328.000 MT (N+P2O5+K2O). 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
0
K P N
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
IPNI, Southern Cone.
Widespread N, P and K fertilization. K P N
IPNI, Southern Cone.
Widespread N and P fertilization.
Application/removal ratio
6,00
5,00
4,00
Sulphate fertilizer use under fertigation systems (e.g. vegetables, fruit crops).
Recent evidences of K deficiencies.
3,00
2,00
Gypsum application in acidic and sodic soils.
1,00
Yield response to S in specific
0,00
conditions (e.g. sandy soils).
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Recent agronomic experiences on S fertilization in some crops and pastures.
N P K
IPNI, Southern Cone.
Presented by Martin Torres Duggan at The Sulphur Institute's (TSI)
Sulphur World Symposium on April 11-14, 2011 in New York, New York USA
Martin Torres Duggan - Page 4 of 5

5. Paraguay Main trends in fertilizer use in Brazil, Argentina
and other Southern Cone countries
Fertilizer consumption (MT)
200000
Recent growth in fertilizer 150000
consumption (mainly P). Steady consumption of sulphate fertilizers (Brazil & Argentina).
100000
50000
Current fertilizer consumption: Increasing demand of bulk blends and compound fertilizers
0
291.000 MT (N+P2O5+K2O). 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 (Brazil & Argentina).
N P2O5 K2O
IPNI, Southern Cone. Upward trend in liquid S fertilizer demand (Argentina).
Agriculture expansion
(east regions).
Increasing demand of “Sulphur Enhanced Fertilizer”
Soybean market expansion (opportunity for P and S).
(Brazil & Argentina).
Soybean expansion (P and S market potential) (Brazil,
Bolivia
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay).
Current fertilizer consumption is quite low (29.000 MT of N+P2O5+K2O).
Major challenges for the future
Gaps between present and potential yields (Argentina, Brazil,
Uruguay, Paraguay).
Negative nutrient balances (Argentina, Paraguay).
Thank you!!
Low N and limestone application rates (Brazil).
Poor logistic infrastructure (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay).
Concern about agro-ecosystems’ sustainability (Brazil,
Argentina, Paraguay).
Presented by Martin Torres Duggan at The Sulphur Institute's (TSI)
Sulphur World Symposium on April 11-14, 2011 in New York, New York USA
Martin Torres Duggan - Page 5 of 5