Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of elemental sulfur (S 0 ) combined with or without N fertilizer on the growth and nutrient uptake such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) by maize plants grown in sandy calcareous soils. Elemental S at rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10 t ha -1 were tested combined with or without N fertilizer at rates of 0 and 0.34 t ha -1 in pots using normal irrigation water (pH >7.5) under Al Zaid and Al Semaih soils in evaporative cooled greenhouse conditions. Electrical conductivity (EC) increased (2.50 to 2.95 dSm -1 ) significantly and decreased (5.07 to 6.06 dSm -1 ) with application of S 0 at rates of 5 and 10 t ha -1 combined with N fertilizer in both Al Zaid and Al Semaih soils, respectively. Soil acidity improved by decreasing soil pH (1.41 to1.52 unit) with application of S 0 at the rate of 10 t ha -1 combined with N fertilizer. Addition of S 0 at the rate of 5 t ha -1 combined with N fertilizer recorded superior total dry matter (TDM) and maximum uptake of all nutrients in both soils. Total dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake had positive correlation, while soil pH showed negative correlation with TDM and uptake of all nutrients. Based on experimental findings, S 0 at the rate of 5 t ha -1 combined with N fertilizer is suitable for growth of maize in both soils. Collectively, the results indicate that Al Zaid soil is more favorable due to higher nutrient uptake and growth of maize than Al Semaih soil. Key words : Elemental sulfur, nutrient uptake, maize, sandy calcareous soil.
Highlights
Most of the agricultural soils in United Arab Emirates (UAE) contain relatively high amounts of calcium trioxocarbonate (IV) CaCO3 and extremely poor organic matter content with high pH value that showed marked influence on the nutrient availability for plant growth (Abdou, 2006)
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of elemental sulfur (S0) combined with or without N fertilizer on the growth and nutrient uptake such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) by maize plants grown in sandy calcareous soils
Addition of S0 at the rate of 5 t ha-1 combined with N fertilizer recorded superior total dry matter (TDM) and maximum uptake of all nutrients in both soils
Summary
Most of the agricultural soils in United Arab Emirates (UAE) contain relatively high amounts of calcium trioxocarbonate (IV) CaCO3 and extremely poor organic matter content with high pH value that showed marked influence on the nutrient availability for plant growth (Abdou, 2006). In addition S plays significant role to the acquisition of N (Malagoli, 1999) Based on these observations, sufficient supply of S is required to maintain the optimum growth and nutrient uptake ability of plants. Sufficient supply of S is required to maintain the optimum growth and nutrient uptake ability of plants For this purpose, the use of S fertilizer is gaining importance because besides the inhibitory actions on N, it contains high S concentration. Substantial information on N and S nutrition of plant is available (Fismes et al, 2000) but the data related to both N and S interaction with irrigation water are still insufficient, especially for maize cultivation in sandy calcareous soils of UAE. Accounting for the above observations, this research was undertaken to investigate the impact of S0 fertilization combined with N fertilizer on the growth and nutrient uptake of maize grown in sandy calcareous soil with normal irrigation water
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