Direct, Residual, and Direct + Residual Effects of Sulfur in Onion–Maize Cropping Sequence

• Published in: Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 2012-08, Vol.43 (14), p.1861-1866
• Main Authors: Raina, S. K, Jaggi, R. C, Chohan, Abha, Dar, M. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; corn; cropping sequence; crops; Fertilizers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaves; Maize; onion; onions; residual effects; residual sulfur; straw; sulfur; sulfur uptake; sulfur utilization; Turfgrasses
• ISSN: 1532-2416; 0010-3624; 1532-2416; 1532-4133
• DOI: 10.1080/00103624.2012.689396

A two-year field study (2003–2004 and 2004–2005) on the effects of four sulfur (S) levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 kg ha⁻¹) in an onion–maize system revealed that S application in onion up to 30 kg ha⁻¹ significantly increased fresh and dry bulb and foliage yield over the previous levels of 0 and 15 kg ha⁻¹ (direct effect). In maize (residual effect) and onion–maize sequence as a whole (direct + residual effects), the same trend was visible. Sulfur additions beyond 30 kg ha⁻¹ reduced the yields (economic yields as well as foliage/straw yields) of individual crops of onion, maize, and sequence (onion + maize) to the level of either 15 kg ha⁻¹ or even the control. Sulfur-use efficiencies (kg yield kg⁻¹ S) at S doses of 15, 30, and 45 kg ha⁻¹, over no S, were 373, 303, and 109; 43, 63, and 2; and 413, 367, and 111 in onion, maize, and onion + maize, respectively. The utilizations of S added at three rates by onion, maize and onion + maize were 21.3, 16.7, and 9.1%; 2.0, 10.7, and –0.4%; and 23.3, 27.3 and 8.4%, respectively.