Comparative Effect of Soil and Foliar Application of Sulfur on Maize

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the comparative effect of soil and foliar application of sulfur on maize at New Development Research Farm of The University of Agriculture Peshawar during 2012. The experiment was laid in randomized complete block design with three replications. For soil sulfur ammonium sulphate was applied at sowing @ 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg ha -1 while foliar sulfur was applied in two split doses @ 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 kg ha -1 . Half dose at knee height and half at silking stage. Almost all the treatments have significantly affected all the agronomic and yield components of maize. Maximum grains yield (4060 kg ha -1 ) was recorded in T6 and T11 i.e. 60 kg ha -1 sulfur application in soil. Similarly biological yield (12490 kg ha -1 ) and ear weight (185.5 g ear -1 ) were also significant at 60 kg ha -1 . The maximum sulfate concentration in leaves was recorded in T6 (0.390 %) and T11 (0.370 %) receiving sulfur @ 100 and 20 kg ha -1 via soil and foliar application. Sulfur application had significant effect on nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. Up to 60 kg ha -1 nitrogen was increased while above this become constant and finally declined and phosphorus up to 60 kg ha -1 increased but decreased drastically above it. On potassium uptake S has no significant effect. At post harvest soil samples maximum SO4 - -S contents were found in soil where S was applied @ 100 kg ha -1 and foliar application has little effect on soil sulfur. In foliar application maximum grains (3237 kg ha -1 ) and biological yield (9340 kg ha -1 ) was recorded in T11 which received S @ 20 kg ha -1 . Therefore it can be concluded that soil application of sulfur @ 60 kg ha -1 at sowing time can be practiced to get substantial growth and yield of maize. In foliar application maximum grain and biological yield (3237 and 9340 kg ha -1 ) was found in T11 respectively. Plant height, ear weight, ear length, 1000 grains weight were also maximum in T11 where sulfur was applied @ 20 kg ha -1 by foliar application.