HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weil, R. R. Articles by Mughogho, S. K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Weil, R. R. Articles by Mughogho, S. K. Agricola Articles by Weil, R. R. Articles by Mughogho, S. K. Related Collections Maize Plant Nutrition Soil Fertility and Productivity

SOIL FERTILITY

Sulfur Nutrition of Maize in Four Regions of Malawi

^a Dep. of Natural Resource Sci. and Landscape Architecture, Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
^b Crop Production Dep., Bunda College of Agriculture, Univ. of Malawi, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi

rw17{at}umail.umd.edu

Sulfur, though widely deficient in Africa, has received little attention by soil fertility researchers. Shifts to low-S, high-analysis fertilizers, continuous cropping, and higher-yielding varieties may have increased S limitations in maize (Zea mays L.) production. We aimed to characterize maize S nutritional status in farmers' fields in four regions of Malawi and determine maize response to S. Four 42 to 68 km² study areas were delineated, two with low-elevation lacustrine soils, and two with highly weathered residual upland soils. Maize plants in 238 farmer fields were sampled for nutrient analysis at 8- to 12-leaf vegetative and tasseling growth stages. Replicated experiments were conducted in two years on a total of 20 farms to determine maize yield responses to S with and without N and/or P. Sampling areas differed significantly in maize S concentrations, S Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) indices, and N:S ratios. For earleaves, means were 1.46 g/kg S; S DRIS index, 12.2; and N:S ratio, 11.5. The ratio of N:S in the earleaf was the best predictor of maize yield response to . Maize yields showed a N x S interaction such that there were no responses to S unless N was also supplied. With 80 kg/ha N, a significant response to S was shown by maize in all but one of 20 experiments. A response curve for S showed that 5 to 10 kg/ha of S was optimal, with mean yield responses ranging from 90 to 142 kg grain/kg S.

Abbreviations: DRIS, Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System • TSP, triple superphosphate

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Pagani, H. E. Echeverria, F. H. Andrade, and H. R. Sainz Rozas Characterization of Corn Nitrogen Status with a Greenness Index under Different Availability of Sulfur Agron. J., March 4, 2009; 101(2): 315 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Chen, D. Kost, and W. A. Dick Flue Gas Desulfurization Products as Sulfur Sources for Corn Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., August 20, 2008; 72(5): 1464 - 1470. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. D. Zheljazkov, T. Astatkie, C. D. Caldwell, J. MacLeod, and M. Grimmett Compost, Manure, and Gypsum Application to Timothy/Red Clover Forage J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2410 - 2418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]