Soil sulfate-sulfur and growth responses of nitrogen-fertilized Douglas-fir to sulfur

Journal Article · · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200040046x· OSTI ID:5986988

Blake, J; Webster, S R; Gessel, S P

Two studies were conducted to determine the growth response of N-fertilized Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to S supplements. The relationship between response and soil SO/sub 4/-S extracted with Morgan's solution, 1.22 M NaOAc + 0.53 M HOAc was used to establish critical levels for S. Douglas-fir seedlings were grown in the greenhouse in the surface mineral layer of 20 forest soils from western Washington and Oregon. On the average, significant increases in total dry weight stem diameter, and height occurred when soils were fertilized with N and S in comparison to N alone. Using the Cate-Nelson procedure, growth responses to N and S were most likely to occur when soil SO/sub 4/-S was below 14 mg S kg/sup -1/. Twenty-eight installations were established in the field containing five N treatments, three rates of N as urea, and one plot of 336 kg N ha/sup -1/ with P, K, Ca, and S. Differences in percent basal area growth between N alone and N with P, K, Ca, and S were significantly related to soil SO/sub 4/-S. Over the initial 5-yr period, response over N alone was improved by 74% when soil SO/sub 4/-S was < 20 mg S kg/sup -1/. When the N with P, K, Ca, and S plots were retreated with only N and S, response over the next 3 yr was more than doubled compared with N alone. Identification of S responsive stands was improved by the inclusion of stand age weighted subsoil SO/sub 4/-S concentrations.

• Research Organization: Auburn Univ., AL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5986988
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 52:4; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CALCIUM
CONIFERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FERTILIZERS
FIRS
GROWTH
METALS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
PINOPHYTA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
POTASSIUM
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SYNERGISM
TREES