Sulfur Doses Research Articles

Effect of sulphur and zinc fertilization on productivity and economics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Jaipur (Rajasthan) during kharif season of 2018 to study the effect of sulphur and zinc fertilization on productivity and economics of sesame. The experiment comprising of four levels each of sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha) and zinc (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg zinc sulphate/ha), thereby making 16 treatment combinations was laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. Results showed that progressive increase in level of sulphur up to 30 kg/ha significantly increased the most of the yield attributing characters of sesame viz., number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and test weight over preceding levels. It also recorded significantly higher seed yield (712 kg/ha) of sesame over control and 15 kg/ha and found at par with 45 kg/ha. Result further showed that every increase in level of zinc sulphate up to 20 kg/ha by and large significantly improved most of the yield determining characters of sesame over lower levels. It also recorded significantly higher seed yield (725 kg/ha) over control and 10 kg/ha and found at par with 30 kg/ha. The results further showed that according to economic and marginal analysis, progressive increase in level of sulphur upto 30 kg S ha-1 and zinc 20 kg Zn ha-1 seemed highly practical due to higher net returns, benefit cost ratio (BCR) and optimum dose of sulphur and zinc for sesame crop were computed as 39.24 kg S ha-1 and 26.30 kg Zn ha-1, respectively.

Effects of extra sulfur fertilization on soil pH and grain mineral concentration in wheat

Increases in crop yield and decreases in industrial sulfur emissions reduce the amount of sulfur (S) in the soil. Sufficient S and proper pH play an important role in achieving the targeted yield and quality of wheat. In recent years, composite fertilizers containing sulfur and mineral substances have been produced and used in wheat production as fertilizers. In this study, an investigation was made as to whether the use of such fertilizer is sufficient for sulfur fertilization. Basal fertilizer (13.25.5 + 10 (SO3) + Zn (0.5)) (250 kg ha-1) was applied to the whole plot, and additional elemental sulfur was added. The amounts of sulfur in the plots at the end of the applications were 10, 300, 600 and 900 kg ha-1 S. One year later, the high dose (600 and 900 kg ha-1) S resulted in a decrease in pH of about 0.5 pH units, while two years later, all S doses resulted in a 1 pH unit decrease. However, the changes in the second year were not induced by the S treatments. Accordingly, no significant effect of S doses on grain protein, mineral content or yield was determined. Wheat variety and year had a significant effect on grain nutrient content. The lowest sulfur dose (10 kg ha-1 S) used in the experiment can be said to be sufficient for yield and mineral concentration.

Sulphur doses and application times on yield and oil quality of canola grown in calcareous soil

Pakistan has been constantly deficient in its oil seed production and it is very difficult to meet the edible oil requirement of its ever-increasing population. A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Northern Pakistan during winter (2013–14). Five sulphur levels (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 kg·ha-1) and times of application (at seedling, bolting and flowering stages) were used for the canola variety Abasin-95. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated four times on a 5 m × 3.2 m plot size. The results showed that the sulphur-applied plots gave the highest seed yield, biological yield, glucosinolate, erucic acid, oil content, protein content, oleic acid and linoleic acid compared to the control plots. Sulphur applied at the rate of 60 kg·ha-1 and applied at the bolting stage increased seed yield, biological yield, oil content, and protein content.

Effect of soil application of sulphur, farm yard manure and vermicompost on soil fertility, growth and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Karguwanji Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (UP) to find out the suitable doses of sulphur, FYM and vermicompost for garlic crop. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications having fifteen treatments viz., T1 - Control, T2 – FYM @ 10t ha-1, T3 - FYM @ 20 t ha-1, T4 ­– Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1, T5 - Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, T6 – Sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, T7 - FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, T8 - FYM @ 20 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, T9 - Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, T10 - Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 20 kg ha-1, T11 - Sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1, T12 - FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1, T13 - FYM @ 20 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1, T14 - Vermicompost @ 2.5 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1 and T15 - Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1. Result revealed that the growth and yield parameters viz., plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of cloves per bulb, bulb diameter, clove weight, bulb weight and bulb yield increased significantly with increasing levels of sulphur, FYM and vemicompost. Application of vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + sulphur @ 40 kg ha-1 (T15) was recorded maximum plant height (48.8 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.1), number of cloves per bulb (20.6), bulb diameter (17.8 cm), bulb weight (29.3 g) and bulb yield (69.2 q ha-1) while maximum number of cloves per bulb (21.0) was observed with T12. Application of sulphur along with different doses of FYM or vermicompost improved the soil health and increased availability of nutrients in the soil.

Bioenergy Generation from Animal Manure and Food Wastes

Field experiments were conducted in Coimbatore District with discrete soil sulphur status i.e., soils with sufficient and deficient levels of sulphur to know the relative response of graded levels varied doses of sulphur on two different sesamum varieties. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with two factors viz.,two sesamum varieties (TMV 7 - Black var. and SVPR 1 - White var.) and Six sulphur levels (0, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 kg S ha-1 ). The results revealed that application of 30 and 50 kg S ha-1 at sulphur sufficient and sulphur deficient soils respectively has increased the yield parameters such as test weight, seed weight per plant, seed yield, stalk yield, oil yield and biological yield. Between the two varieties, TMV 7 has performed better when compared with SVPR 1.Under both the soil sulphur status, further increase in the level of sulphur recorded a non-significant increase in the yield attributes.

Sulfur-containing fertilizers influence on sulfur balance at potato cultivation

The results of studies on the sulfur fertilizer effect on sulfur balance in potato cultivation in the conditions of sod-podzolic soils of the Eastern Nonchernozem belt have been introduced. The microfield experiment was laid in 2013 at the agrobiostation station of Mari State University. It was established that elemental sulfur at a dose of 30 kg/ha increased tuber productivity from 277.0 dt/ha to 291.0 dt/ha on average over three years of research. Tuber productivity has increased with sulfur dose increasing up to 60 and 90 kg/ha and amounted respectively 321.0 dt/ha and 304.0 dt/ha. Sulfur application in the form of ammonium sulfate in similar doses increased the potato tubers productivity to 318.0, 341.0 and 315.0 dt/ha, respectively. Sulfur-containing fertilizers application increased the sulfur amount in potato tubers from 0.12% to 0.15%, and in the tops from 0.15% to 0.19%. Sulfur-containing fertilizers have been applied, crops sulfur removal increased for the main and co-products. The largest tubers and potato tops sulfur removal of 18.2 and 18.0 kg/ha was marked when sulfur was introduced in the form of elemental sulfur and ammonium sulfate at a dose of 60 kg/ha. Potato cultivation without sulfur-containing fertilizers led to a negative balance of sulfur and reduced its reserves in the soil. Elemental sulfur introduction at a dose of 30 kg/ha provided a positive sulfur balance, which amounted to 5.1 kg/ha. Sulfur introduction at a dose of 60 kg/ha provided balance of 16.1 kg/ha, and at a dose of 90 kg/ha it has increased to 34.8 kg/ha. Sulfur introduction in similar doses in the form of ammonium sulfate formed a positive sulfur balance, which amounted to 2.8, 16.3 and 32.3 kg/ha, respectively.

Improvement of the Content and Uptake of Micronutrients in Spring Rye Grain DM Through Nitrogen and Sulfur Supplementation

The aim of this field experiment was to analyze the influence of different nitrogen and sulfur doses on yield as well as the content and uptake of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) by spring rye grain. The study was conducted in south-eastern Poland (2009–2011) on Cambisols (WRB 2015), in conditions of low sulfur content in soil. The experiment included four doses of N fertilization (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha−1) and two doses of S supplementation (0 and 40 kg ha−1). The analysis showed that fertilization with N and S had a positive effect on the studied features of spring rye. The highest grain yields were found after use of 90 kg N ha−1. The grain of rye fertilized with these doses of N was characterized by the highest concentration and uptake of tested microelements. The supplementation of sulfur in a dose of 40 kg S ha−1 improved the nitrogen effect, because the rye grain yield and the content and uptake of micronutrients (except Mn) by rye grain dry mass increased. The highest yield of spring rye grain and accumulation of Mn and Zn and intake of Mn, Zn and Cu by grain dry mass (DM) were obtained in the vegetation season of 2011, which was characterized by an optimal rainfall distribution. The highest accumulation of Fe and Cu and intake of Fe were obtained in the vegetation season of 2009. Significant correlations were found also between grain yield and the content and uptake of all studied micronutrients. The supplementation of NPK fertilization with sulfur can be a good means of agronomic biofortification for spring rye in order to increase the content and uptake of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu.

Effect of Sulphur on the Yield and Quality of Potato Varieties in Tista Meander Floodplain Soil of Bangladesh

A field experiment was carried out at Breeder seed Production Centre (BSPC), Debiganj, Panchagarh during the Rabi season of 2016-2017 to study the effect of five levels of sulphur application on yield and quality attributes of three potato varieties. The main objective of the experiment was to determine the effect of sulphur on the yield and quality of potato varieties. There were five treatments comprising different levels of sulphur such as T1 (control-no sulphur), T2 (75% RDS), T3 (100% RDS), T4 (125% RDS) and T5 (150% RDS). Three BARI released potato variety; BARI Alu 36 (4.26 R), BARI Alu 40 (4.45W) and BARI Alu 25 (Asterix) were used in this experiment. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The tuber yield and yield contributing characters were significantly influenced by the application of sulphur. Maximum tuber yield (39.28 t/ha) was recorded in BARI Alu 40 (4.45 w). Highest dry matter content, specific gravity and starch content were found in BARI Alu 40 (4.45 w), which was followed by BARI Alu 36 (4.26 R) in case of specific gravity and starch content. Sulphur application in potato varieties showed significant influence on tuber yield of potato. This parameter increased with increasing dose of sulphur up to 100% RDS. Thereafter, further increase in sulphur did not showed any remarkable influence. Besides, sulphur application in potato varieties showed significant influence on tuber quality of potato. The maximum dry matter yield and starch yield were recorded in the treatment T3, which was followed by all other treatments except T1. The minimum dry matter yield and starch yield were recorded in the treatment T1. Combined effect showed insignificant influences between varieties and sulphur levels. BARI Alu 40 (4.45 w) was found superior over other varieties in terms of yield and quality attributes. Treatment T3 (100% RDS) was found superior over other treatments in terms of yield.

Sulfur Dose and Sulfidation Time Affect Reactivity and Selectivity of Post-Sulfidized Nanoscale Zerovalent Iron.

Exposing nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) to dissolved sulfide species improves its performance as a remediation agent. However, the impacts of sulfur dose and sulfidation time on morphology, sulfur content, reactivity, and selectivity of the resulting sulfidized NZVI (SNZVI) have not been systematically evaluated. We synthesized SNZVI using different sulfur doses and sulfidation times and measured their properties. The measured S/Fe molar ratio in the particles ([S/Fe]particle) was 10-500 times lower than [S/Fe]dosed but was predictable based on [S/Fe]dosed × tsulfidation. The low sulfur content (0.02-0.65 mol % S/Fe) inhibited the reaction of SNZVI with water (up to 13-fold) and increased its reactivity with trichloroethene (TCE) (up to 14-fold) and its electron efficiency (up to 20-fold). A higher [S/Fe]particle (0.86-1.13 mol % S/Fe) led to complex particle structures and lowered the resistance to electron transfer but did not improve the benefits realized at the lower S/Fe ratios. Adding small amounts of sulfur into NZVI led to more accumulation of acetylene, especially for low Fe/TCE conditions, suggesting that sulfur lowers the rate of hydrogenation of acetylene to ethene. These results show that [S/Fe]dosed × tsulfidation can be used to predict the measured S content in the particles and thataffects reactivity, longevity, and electron selectivity, for post-SNZVI.

BROCCOLI PRODUCTION IN FUNCTION OF DOSES OF SULPHUR IN COVERAGE

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of sulfur doses in coverage production of Avenger® hybrid broccoli. It was observed that the sulfur levels influenced the characteristics evaluated with linear effect for fresh mass, diameter, height, and inflorescence of fresh mass of leaves, with increase of 15.7 g; 0.29 cm; 0.46 cm, and 11.9 g per 10 kg of sulfur, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the number of sheets with an average of 25 leaves per plant.

Managment of sulphur fertilizer in forage sorghum crop cultivated in eutrophic Cambisol with alkaline pH

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of soil fertilization with sulfur-based fertilizers, sulfate and elemental sulfur forms on biomass production, nutrient characteristics of sorghum and soil chemical properties. The experiment was carried out in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme (four sulfur sources: single superphosphate, agricultural gypsum, elemental sulfur powder and elemental sulfur granulated with bentonite, and four sulfur doses: 0, 40, 80, 120 mgdm-3) using four replications in a completely randomized design, being cultivated in pots under greenhouse conditions. The sorghum was cultivated for a period of 51 days after emergence of the seedlings. The shoot dry mass, shoot macronutrients content, root and soil and pH of the soil were evaluated. There were interactions between sources and sulfur doses in the variables such as shoot dry mass, sulfur in the root, sulfur and calcium in the soil. Elemental sulfur (granulate) showed lower concentrations of phosphorus, sulfur and N:S ratio in the shoot. The concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium did not show significant differences, both for the shoot and the root. The pH of the soil was reduced depending on the sources and doses of elemental sulfur. The sources and doses of sulfur did not influence the levels of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium in the soil. The elemental sulfur in the form of powder is the best source of sulfur for forage sorghum cultivated in soil with alkaline pH.

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in calves associated with excess sulfur intake

ABSTRACT: Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is the morphological characterization for softening of brain gray matter, and excess sulfur intake is one of its main causes. This study describes an outbreak of this disease in 1-to-3-month-old calves in a farm located in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. The herd consisted of 27 Jersey male calves whose diet was composed of initial feed, ground whole corn, and mineral salt. From this herd, 10 animals became ill, showing signs of apathy, anorexia and blindness, evolving to generalized weakness and death. Necropsy was performed in three of these animals, which showed flattening of the cerebral convolutions in addition to softened, yellowish areas in the cerebral cortex. Histopathological examination revealed deep laminar necrosis associated with perineuronal and perivascular edema, as well as neurons with wrinkled, eosinophilic, or vacuolated cytoplasm. The following sulfur doses were observed: 8,010mg/kg in corn, 6,385mg/kg in initial feed, 1,060mg/kg in mineral salt and 2.3mg/L in water, reaching dose values far above the accepted, totaling a daily intake of approximately 6,533.5mg sulfur/animal/day. As differential diagnosis, lead was dosed in the kidneys and liver of the three calves, with negative results. Also, the calf that sickened last was treated with 20mg/kg thiamin and 0.2mg/kg dexamethasone (IM; QID) for three days and eventually recovered. According to anatomopathological findings, excess sulfur intake and therapeutic diagnosis, sulfur poisoning was suggested as the cause of PEM in these 1-to-3-month-old calves. Occurrence of PEM is rare in calves at such a young age.

Effect of Enhanced Elemental Sulphur Doses on pH Value of a Calcareous Soil

Due to the lime content, the high pH value of the soils usually can limit the availability of some plant nutrients including phosphorus. Elemental sulfur (S) applications are one of the leading methods used for lowering soil pH value. Although S application is an economic resource used for reducing pH value in the rhizosphere, recommended S doses are often ineffective in lowering soil pH value. For this reason, this study was carried out to look into the effects of both the recommended sulphur doses and the intense doses of sulphur additions on the soil pH value. The effect of different S application doses in weight percentages as 0-0.01-0.02-0.04-0.08-0.16-0.32 and0.64 % of elemental S, on soil pH was determined in the pot experiment. The soil sample was taken at 0-30 cm Sarıcalar Experimental area of Agricultural Faculty of Selcuk University in Konya. The soil sample used in the study has light alkaline pH value (7.97), calcareous (12.25%), low salty less salty, organic matter content and available phosphorus concentration. At first, S were added soil samples at the pot experiment, then after, water content was brought to field capacity using pure water and incubated at 28°C for the period of 10 weeks. Weekly, pH measurements were made throughout the incubation period and regular pure water additions were made to ensure that the soil steadily remains at the field capacity. All applications led to a decrease in soil pH values, while pH is inclined to increase again during the course of time in the pot experiments.

Evaluation of sulfur source and dose on the nutritional state and production of piatã forage

Sulfur deficiency in soils has become a worldwide concern for agricultural production. This study aimed to evaluate the concequence of variable sulfur source and dosing on the nutritional status and production of Piatã forage in a dystrophic Ultisol. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The 4 x 5 factorial treatments consisted of four sulfur sources (elemental sulfur pastilles [ESPA], gypsum [GY], gypsite [GI], and elemental sulfur powder [ESPO]) and five sulfur doses (0, 50, 100, 150. and 200 mg kg-1). The sulfur applications resulted in similar maximum shoot dry mass (SDM) production (16.66 to 17.69 g pot-1) with all sources. However, Piatã grass achieved maximum production in the treatments with 112 mg kg-1 of GI, 118 mg kg-1 of GY and ESPA, and 146 mg kg-1 of ESPO. The number of tillers, the leaf:stem ratio, and SPAD increased with increasing sulfur dose. The greatest increments of root dry mass (RDM) and of the tiller number were obtained with the ESPO source. Macronutrient concentrations in shoot dry mass tissue were in the order K > N > Ca > P > S > Mg. Low sulfur supply resulted in decreased Piatã grass growth with all sulfur sources tested. Differential responses were found with applications of different sulfur sources for SDM, RDM, and tillers number. The sources did not alter the leaf:stem ratio or SPAD index.

Powdery mildew damage to the production of BRS 189 cashew plants

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Pseudoidium anacardii, is currently the most important cashew disease, affecting leaves, inflorescences, and fruits. However, there is a lack of detailed reports associating the effects of P. anacardii to cashew yield. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the damage caused by powdery mildew to BRS 189 cashew clone nut, kernel, and peduncles. One experiment was conducted at the Embrapa Agroindustria Tropical Experimental Field in Pacajus, state of Ceara, Brazil, from July to December 2014, with BRS 189 cashew clone, with eight sulfur doses needed for achieving a disease gradient, distributed in a randomized block with four replications. The incidence (%) and severity of powdery mildew in cashew plants were estimated in a scale ranging from 0 to 4, and then correlated with plant yield and biometric characteristics of cashew nuts, kernels, and peduncles. The results showed that powdery mildew did not reduce productivity of nuts on this clone, although it caused a reduction in the mass and size of the kernels. On the other hand, powdery mildew affected mass, size, and quality of cashew peduncles at the lack of control.

Effect of phosphorus and sulphur application on their dynamics and nodulation in soil under black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] crop

The experiment comprising of four levels of phosphorus, i.e., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha-1 and three levels of sulphur, i.e., 0, 15 and 30 kg ha-1, was conducted during summer of 2015-16 to investigate the effect of phosphorus and sulphur application on their dynamics in soil under the crop of black gram cv. Uttara. The treatments were laid out in randomized block design (factorial) and replicated three times. The results reveal that the available and organic phosphorus (kg ha-1) significantly increased with each successive application of phosphorus in soil up to highest level (60 kg ha-1) at 20 days after sowing (DAS) of black gram, while it showed decreasing trend with time intervals of 40 DAS and at maturity of black gram. The application of successive doses of sulphur had no significant effect on available and organic phosphorus at each time interval. Similarly, significant increase has also been recorded in available and organic sulphur (kg ha-1) in soil with each successive application of sulphur up to 30 kg ha-1 at 20 DAS of black gram, thereafter, it showed decreasing trend. The application of successive doses of phosphorus had no significant effect on available and organic sulphur at each time interval. Number of nodules plant-1 also increased significantly with increasing levels of phosphorus and sulphur up to highest level and the optimum values were recorded with combined application of phosphorus 60 kg ha-1 and sulphur 30 kg ha-1.

Sulphur and Nitrogen Fertilization as a Potential Means of Agronomic Biofortification to Improve the Content and Uptake of Microelements in Spring Wheat Grain DM

The aim of the field experiment was to analyze the impact of various nitrogen and sulphur doses on the content and uptake of spring grains of iron, manganese, copper, and zinc. The study was conducted in southeastern Poland (2009–2011) on Cambisols (WRB 2007), in conditions of low soil sulphur content. The experiment included 4 doses of N fertilization (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg/ha) and 2 doses of S application (0 and 50 kg/ha). The analysis showed that fertilization with nitrogen and sulphur had a positive effect on the studied features of spring wheat. The combination resulted in beneficial content of Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu (Fe 45.00, Mn 35.67, Zn 34.63, and Cu 3.65 mg/kg) and beneficial uptake of microelements by grain DM (Fe 216.1, Mn 171.3, Zn 166.4, and Cu 17.52 g/ha). The highest grain yield (5.43 t/ha) was obtained after the application of nitrogen at a dose of 80 kg/ha and sulphur at a dose of 50 kg/ha. In relation to control, this increase of grain yield amounted to 13.3%. Significant correlations were also found between grain yield and the content and uptake of all microelements, as well as between elements. No significant correlation was found only between the content and uptake of Fe and the content of Mn and between the content of Mn and Cu. Sulphur supplementation of NPK fertilization can be a good means of agronomic biofortification for spring wheat in order to increase the content and uptake of micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu.

The effect of foliar fertilization with sulphur on changes in mineral composition of leaves and fruits of Malus × domestica ‘Gloster’

The two-year field trial was focused on the effect of foliar fertilization with different forms of sulphur on the concentration of mineral elements in leaves (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B) and fruits (S, K, Mg, Ca and B) of Malus × domestica 'Gloster'. The treatments were as follows: 1) unfertilized control, 2) foliar application of elemental sulphur with boron (Sulfika SB-C), 3) foliar application of magnesium sulphate (EPSO Top), 4) foliar fertilization with thiosulphates with potassium (SK sol), and 5) foliar application of fungicide with elemental sulphur (Kumulus). The same dose of Sulphur, i.e., 3.2 kg S ha-1 per vegetation, was applied in each treatment (except the control). Results obtained within two years (2014-2015) show the highest concentration of sulphur in leaves in treatment 4 (0.190% in dry matter) in comparison with treatments 2 (0.164% in dry matter) and 3 (0.175% in dry matter). A similar trend was observed in fruits, however the differences between the treatments were not significant. The concentration of sulphur in leaves was followed by the concentration of total nitrogen in 2014. It was significantly higher in treatment 4 (2.585% in dry matter) than in treatments 2 (2.390% in dry matter) and 3 (2.373% in dry matter). Sulfika SB-C significantly increased the concentration of boron in leaves and fruits and seems to be a good source of this element.

Increasing Levels of Sulfur on Lowland Rice in Different Soil Textures

A viable alternative to increase productivity in rice cultivation areas has been the investment in macronutrient fertilization. Sulfur (S) is an essential nutrient for plants, as it participates in the formation of several organic molecules, being essential to ensure high yields of rice. The aim of this paper is to analyze the rice crop performance in two types of irrigated floodplain soils under different doses of sulfur fertilization. The experiment was carried out on two lowland soils in Formoso do Araguaia-Tocantins, Brazil, under a randomized block design, in a 2 × 8 factorial arrangement, two soil types and eight sulfur doses, using ammonium sulfate as the source of S (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kg ha-1 of S). The doses were applied when the plants were in the V3-V4 development stage in both soils. S provided plant a growth up to 40 kg ha-1, which is the economical feasible dose for plant height in soil 1. With the increase of the dose of S over 60 kg ha-1 in soil 2, there was a decrease in the number of panicles per m2. There was an increase in productivity in soil 2 and reduction in soil 1. The highest grain yield was obtained in soil with higher clay content. The dynamics of sulfur fertilization in floodplain soils requires further studies for a better understanding.

‘Not for us the Weekly dose of Sulphur and Brimstone!’ Women, Family and Homoeopathic Medicine in Early Twentieth-century Britain

Summary During the first three decades of the twentieth century Victorian notions of differentiated gender roles continued to inhibit British women intending on a medical career. For some aspiring women doctors, however, homoeopathic medicine offered way into into the profession, a route that allowed them to sidestep the constraints imposed by masculine medical culture. The appeal of homoeopathy for these women doctors lay partly in its ‘soft healing’ approach and also in its sectarian nature. Extensive intra- and inter-generational affiliative networks provided homoeopathic group cohesion, while its gentle therapeutics contrasted with the powerful pharmaceutical basis of orthodox scientific medicine. For these reasons women homoeopathic doctors embraced the gendered role of woman as caregiver and, turning this to their advantage, were able to forge successful careers in modern British medicine.