Mehdi Karimi
National Salinity Research Center (NSRC), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO),Yazd, Iran
Aminuddin Hussein
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Mohd Khanif Yusop
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Radziah Othman
Universiti Putra Malaysia
A glasshouse experiment was conducted to determine the effects of elemental sulfur (S) applications on soil acidity, the solubility of soil iron, and the uptake of iron (Fe) by corn (Zea mays L.). Soil samples were treated with four rates of sulfur and incubated for 0, 20, and 40 days before corn plantation. While one unit increase in S application rate corresponded to a soil pH decrease of approximately 1.52 units, the solubility of the Fe was significantly increased. Fe concentrations in leaves and stems increased as soil pH decreased from 7.03 to 5.42, but further soil acidification decreased Fe concentrations in plant tissues. Overall, applying S at a rate of 0.5 g S kg-1 soil may to enhance corn performance by 45 percent while posing minimal risk to groundwater or crops.
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