SOIL SULFUR AND NITROGEN AVAILABILITY IMPROVES ROOT BIOMASS GROWTH OF RYEGRASS(Lolium multiflorumL.)

• Published in: Chilean journal of agricultural & animal sciences 2020-01, Vol.36 (2), p.151-160
• Main Authors: Córdova, Carolin, Martínez, Ana María, Machuca, Angela, Zagal, Erick, Fischer, Susana, Betancur, Matías
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
• ISSN: 0719-3890; 0719-3890
• DOI: 10.29393/CHJAAS36-13SSCC60013

ABSTRACT Soil sulfur (S) deficiencies have been detected lately, affecting crop production and nitrogen (N) uptake. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of S application on crop N recovery efficiency. N and S mineralization, potentially available N, and urease activity were measured in Andisol and Mollisol soils. No differences were found (P ≤ 0.05) between the soils in terms of microbiological parameters, but soil mineralization kinetics showed a small increase in the Andisol soil. The Mollisol soil was used to carry out a pot assay with rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), including four treatments: S, N, the combined application of S and N at a rates of 30 kg S ha-1 and 100 kg N ha-1, and a control treatment. Crop biomass dry matter, N concentration, and N recovery efficiency were determined sixteen weeks after sowing. N recovery efficiency increased by 26% with S application, but it was not significantly different from the control treatment (P ≥ 0.05). The S content in the crop biomass was low, and a large residual soil S was observed at the end of crop growth. However, the combined application of N and S resulted in an increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the root growth of plants.