Alfalfa and corn response to sulfur fertilization on three Pennsylvania soils

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00103628409367471· OSTI ID:6748291

Quigley, E H; Jung, G A

Studies were conducted at three locations in Pennsylvania under different soil and climatic conditions to determine crop response to S applications. Two S materials, elemental S and fluidized bed combustion waste material (FBM), were applied annually to alfalfa and corn at three rates of application: 34, 67, and 134 kg S/ha, with appropriate controls. Elemental S plus CaO treatment was applied to alfalfa at the same three rates. Two levels of N were used in the corn trials, 112 and 224 kg N/ha. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, replicated four times. The nutritive value of alfalfa was improved in terms of higher S concentrations and lower N:S ratios by S fertilization, but nutritive value of corn grain and silage was unaltered. Sulfur concentrations in alfalfa was increased and the N:S ratio decreased approximately 9% by an application of 134 kg S/ha (mean over three years and three locations). The reduced ratios were closer to the optimum N:S ratio (10 to 13.5:1) suggested by animal nutritionists for ruminants. Protein content and dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of both crops were not altered by S fertilization. Alfalfa yields were not significantly increased by S fertilization until the third year at two locations. In the third year, S fertilization increased yields up to 14%. Yields of corn grain and silage were not improved by S fertilization, nor was there a S X N interaction. Under similar soils and weather conditions of this study, only the most intensive management systems (yields over 11.2 MT/ha (5 tons/acre)) are likely to tax residual levels of S and benefit from applications of S.

• Research Organization: Regional Pasture Research Lab., University Park, PA
• OSTI ID: 6748291
• Journal Information: Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States), Journal Name: Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal.; (United States) Vol. 15:3; ISSN CSOSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010800 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Waste Management
553000 -- Agriculture & Food Technology
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALFALFA
CEREALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION III
FERTILIZATION
FLUIDIZED-BED COMBUSTION
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
GROWTH
LEGUMINOSAE
MAIZE
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
PENNSYLVANIA
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
SOILS
SULFUR
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
USES
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION