Effects of sulfur application rate on sulfur utilization and grain yield of summer maize in Guanzhong Plain
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DOI:10.7606/j.issn.1000-7601.2013.05.028
Key Words: sulfur  summer maize  grain yield  use efficiency
Author NameAffiliation
LI Na, YANG Yang, ZHAO Yu-xia, WANG Wen-yan, LI Xue-fang, WANG Lin-quan (西北农林科技大学资源环境学院, 陕西 杨凌 712100) 
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Abstract:
      In order to study the effects of sulfur application rate on sulfur uptake and grain yield of summer maize in Guanzhong Plain, a single factor (sulfur) field experiment was carried out with five sulfur application rates (0, 37.5, 75, 112.5 kg S·hm-2, and 150 kg S·hm-2) during June, 2011 to October, 2011. Sulfur use efficiency and grain yield of maize were analyzed. The results showed that the sulfur uptake rate of maize was improved along with the increase of sulfur application rate, and it peaked at 288.4~378.6 g·hm-2·d-1 at large bell stage. High sulfur application treatments (112.5 kg S·hm-2 and 150 kg S·hm-2) significantly increased dry matter accumulation of maize at the end of growing season. The grain yield of maize significantly increased under moderate sulfur application treatments (75 kg S·hm-2 and 112.5 kg S·hm-2), but tended to decrease when sulfur application rate went up to 150 kg S·hm-2. The sulfur partial productivity and agronomic efficiency decreased with the increase of sulfur pplication rate, and the sulfur use efficiency of maize in all treatments was below 5%. It was concluded that the response of summer maize to sulfur application was remarkable, and 112.5 kg S·hm-2 was the optimal sulfur application rate for summer maize under the experimental condition.