Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(11) November 2016, Pages: 85-90
AENSI Journals
Advances in Environmental Biology
ISSN-1995-0756
EISSN-1998-1066
Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/AEB/
Effect of Sulfur on Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Yield of
Maize Crop
1Rafiq
1
2
Ahmad, 1Khadim Dawar, 1Jasim Iqbal and 2Sara Wahab
Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan
University of Malakand, Pakistan
Address For Correspondence:
Rafiq Ahmad, Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Received 23 August 2016; Accepted 1 November 2016; Published 20 November 2016
ABSTRACT
This field study was carried out to evaluate the influence of sulfur (S) on nitrogen (N) use efficiency and grain yield of maizewas carried out
in farmers’ field at Dargai, Malakand Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during summer season of 2015. Sulfur @ 0, 20, 30 and 40 kg ha-1was
applied in the form of NH4-SO4 with adjusted levels of nitrogen @ 0, 120 and 150 kg ha -1 in form of urea fertilizer. The treatments were
arranged in two factorial designs with plot size of 2 x 3 m2 and were grown with maize “CV-Azam” with a distance of 75 cm row to row and
20 cm plant to plant. The applied all S levels and half of N with 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 60 kg ha-1 were applied during sowing time while half
of N was applied 35 days after sowing. Higher grain yield (3098 kg ha -1) and plant height (209 cm) were recorded at level of 30 kg S ha -1,
while higher total N in leaves (1.11 %) was noted @ 40 kg S ha -1. Each increment of S application increased nitrogen use efficiency at both
levels with more effect at higher than lower N levels. These observations indicated limited/restricted supply of S in the given soil and
climatic conditions to meet the crop requirements at expected higher and faster yields associated with higher N levels. It is concluded that
application of S fertilizers should be given due attention in hilly areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for optimum maize crops.
KEYWORDS: Zea mays; nitrogen; sulfur; grain yield; agronomic characters; Pakistan.
INTRODUCTION
Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third basic cereal crop of Pakistan after wheat and rice and has took great
economic importance in raising of poultry and livestock [8]. It is sown on temperate as well as in the regions of
subtropical and tropical of the world. Its growing time is spring and summer (kharif) seasons. Sandy to clayey
soil textures are suitable for it with pH 6.5 to 7.5. In the year (2012) the planted area was 1087 thousand ha with
the entire production of 4338 thousand tons and average yield of 3995 kg ha -1 and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa it
was planted on 475 thousand ha with a entire production of 887.8 thousand tons and average yield of 1870 kg
ha-1[15]. In Pakistan the soil texture and agro climatic conditions are suitable with the availability of high
yielding varieties and hybrids. At farmer’s field in our country the production of maize is low in comparison to
the other corn growing states like Canada, Australia, America and Egypt etc. Maize is also used in a variety of
by products like glucose, starch and corn oil etc, besides as source of food, fodder and feed.
Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) both are deeply concerned in amino acids bio-synthesis and make a key role in
the defense of plants against nutrients stress, attacks of pests and increases the synthesis of chlorophyll and
vitamins in the cell [10]. For optimum grain yield and economic benefits 40 kg S ha-1 and 350 kg N ha-1 should
be applied [17]. Correlation of different physiological traits and grain yield at recommended, high and at low
nitrogen levels was positive and significant, while for phenological traits, it was negative and significant [12].
Applying N at the rate of 180 kg ha-1 increases grain yield in hybrids significantly [1]. Increasing in nitrogen
levels maize yield significantly increased up to 300 kg N ha -1. Plant height, first ear height, ear diameter, grains
Copyright © 2016 by authors and American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI Publication).
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ear-1 and 1000 grains weight were not significantly affected by nitrogen levels. Ear length, ear plant -1, grain
yield and crude protein content were significantly affected by nitrogen level. It was concluded that 300 kg N ha-1
was adequate for grain yield [11]. itrogen application in higher rates increases the intensity of sulfur deficiency.
Without nitrogen fertilizer application, plants show no visible sulfur stress, whereas nitrogen fertilizer
application to plants especially at higher levels without applying sulfur shows severe physiological disorders
[13]. Increase in nitrogen levels increased the number of ears per unit area and thousand grains weight [22]. By
applying sulfur and nitrogen in the forms of ammonium sulfate and urea makes maize an ideal crop for all soils
especially calcareous and alkaline soils [6]. Nitrogen and Sulfur application, significantly affected the
phenological, growth and yield parameters of maize except, number of cobs per plant and 1000 grain weight [2].
Cost of sulfur fertilization is relatively less as compared to its considerable profit of quality and yield of crops.
Sulfur uptake and absorption is directly proportional to the growth, development and production of crop.
Complete yield potential of a crop cannot be obtained where soil is suffering with sulfur deficiency, even
irrespective of all the other nutrients application and under excellent management practices.Sulfur application at
level of 5 tons ha-1 combined with nitrogen fertilizer results in higher maize yield [18]. Sulfur application up to
60 kg ha-1 can make nitrogen and phosphorus efficient [21]. Carrying out a systematic research is a need to find
out the knowledge of these two nutrient elements (Sulfur and Nitrogen) in order to develop comprehensive
information about the response of maize to these two elements. Nitrogen and elemental sulfur fertilization
significantly increases the chlorophyll content and grain yield [16].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental site:
A field experiment was laid out at farmer field Dargai, Malakand. Maize crop was sown during May, 2015.
The design was Randomize Complete block Design (RBCD) with 3 replication and 12 treatments. Size of the
plot was 2 x 3 m2 and Azam variety of maize was sown. The distance between plants to plant was 25 and 75 cm
from row to row. Full recommended dose of phosphorus at 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 in the form of single superphosphate
and potash at 60 kg K2O ha-1 in the form of K2SO4 was applied. Nitrogen half dose was given with first irrigation
and the remaining N half dose was given at knee height stage means after 35 days. All other cultural practices
such as weeding, insects control and irrigation were done to all plots equally.
Soil analysis of experimental site:
Before sowing four composite soil samples were collected and passes through a sieve of two mm to separate
roots and plant stubbles. Analyzed soil sample for physical and chemical properties of soil (Table 1), such as
Soil texture, pH, EC, OM,AB-DTPA extractable Phosphorus (P), total N, and available SO4-S.
Table 1: Experimental field Pre-Harvest Soil Physico-Chemical Properties
Properties
Units
Clay
%
Silt
"
Sand
"
Textural Class
-----------pH (1:5)
-----------E.C (1:5)
dSm-1
OM (%)
%
Extractable (AB-DTPA) P
mg kg-1
Total N
%
Available SO4-S
mg kg-1
Values
13.8
30
56.2
Sandy loam
7.19
0.14
1.00
2.05
0.115
22.86
Plant height (cm):
Plant height was recorded in centimeter with the help of a meter rod by averaging the plant height of five
representative plants from each sub plot.
Grain yield (kg ha-1):
Middle three rows in each plot were harvested. From harvested plants all the ears were removed, dried and
then threshed with the help of a small Sheller. The grains obtained from each plot were weighted with the help
of an electric balance and then converted into kg ha-1.
Grain yield (kg ha-1) =
Grain yield plot-1
x 104 m2
Row to row distance (m) x row length (m) x No of rows
Biological yield (kg ha-1):
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At maturity stage, three central rows of each plot were harvested, tied them into bundles. The bundle was
dried into sun and then weighted with the help of a spring balance to obtain biological yield and then biological
yield was converted into kg ha-1.
Stover yield (kg ha-1):
Stover yield in each plot was determined by subtracting grain yield from biological yield.
Sulfur Use Efficiency SUE (Kg Yield per Kg of applied S):
Sulfur use efficiency was obtained by using the following formula
SUE = Yield of treated plots – Yield of control plots
Kg of S applied
Nitrogen Use Efficiency NUE (kg Yield / kg of applied N):
The following formula was used for measuring NUE.
NUE = Yield of treated plots – Yield of control plots
Kg of N applied
Statistical analysis:
The data was analyzed statistically by using appropriate analysis of variance for randomized complete block
design. The F-values were significant Steel and Torrie [23] when means were compared using LSD test at 5%
level of significance.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Plant height (cm):
Plant height of maize was significantly increased with the application of both sulfur and nitrogen levels
(Table 2). Mean values showed that increase in S levels, plant height was increased when averaged across the N
levels from 186 cm in the control to 209 cm @ 30 kg S ha-1. This showed that plant height increased by 12.36%
over no sulfur application. However, further increased beyond @ 30 kg S ha-1 did not show any increases in
plant height suggesting it as optimum dose in the prevailing soil and plant conditions. Similarly taking average
across the S levels plant height was increased from 181 cm at kg N ha -1 to 205 cm @ 150 kg N ha-1 indicating
13.25% increase over control. The increase in percentage by N application was more than the S application
indicating that maize plants are more dependent on N than S. Interaction between N and S was found nonsignificant showing that N efficiency was not related to the application of S. The increase in plant height of
maize by N may be due to the increase in vegetative growth [14]. Similarly the increase in plant height of maize
by S might be due to that S application enhances the assimilation of proteins which increases the cell growth and
maximizes the plant height [9].
Grain yield (kg ha-1):
Grain yield of maize was increased significantly (P≤0.05) by application of both S and N levels (Table 2).
With increase in S levels the mean values of maize grain yields as average across N levels increased from 2601
kg ha-1 in control plots (0 kg S ha-1) to 3098 kg ha-1 with application of 30 kg S ha-1. It showed that grain yield
was increased by 19.10 % over no S application on average basis. However, further increased beyond 30 kg did
not show increases in grain yields suggesting it as optimum dose in the prevailing soil and plant conditions.
When averaged across S levels, the grain yield maximized from 2608 kg ha -1 @ 0 kg N ha-1 to 3244 kg ha-1 @
150 kg N ha-1 indicating 24.38% increase over no N application. The percent increase with N levels was more
than increases in S levels suggesting more response of N over S. However, the increase in grain yields with both
N and S were independent of each other as observed by the non-significant interaction between the two.
Increase in the grain yield by application of N might be due to the increase in the photosynthesis rate as
documented by [27]. Similarly increase in grain yield by the addition of S might be due to that S increases the
nitrogen use efficiency [20] which in turn increases the grains ear-1 and grains weight [7].
Biological yield (kg ha-1):
Biological yield of maize was affected significantly by levels of nitrogen (Table 2) however the result was
not significant for sulfur levels and interaction between S and N. Mean values present that average biological
yield across the S levels was maximized from 6239 kg ha-1 at control to 8990 kg ha-1@ 150 kg N ha-1.
Biological yield was maximized 44.09% over the control having no N application. Result of the data showed
that N application increases significantly the biological yield without the influence of S showing the non
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dependent nature of N on S. The increase in the biological yield of maize by N might be due to that application
of N increases leaves weight by increasing chlorophyll in the leaves [26]. Sulfur application did not increase the
biological yield and this finding is in line with [24].
Stover yield (kg ha-1):
Nitrogen application significantly affected Stover yield of maize (Table 2). Increase in the average Stover
yield from 3631 kg ha-1 @ 0 kg N ha-1 to 5980 kg ha-1 @ 150 kg N ha-1, was recorded across the S levels. Stover
yield was increased 64.69 % in the plots receiving 150 kg N ha-1 over the control. Nitrogen application increases
Stover yield and this might be due to that N increases leaves per plant, leaf area and stem diameter as found by
[12]. Stover yield by the application of S showed non-significant affect because S application enhances the
active translocation of assimilates from source toward sink as it increases grains ear -1 and 1000 grains weight
[19].
Nitrogen concentration in leaves (%):
According to the given data (Table 2) average total N concentration in leaves across N levels was increased
to (1.1 %) at 40 kg S ha-1 from (0.97 %) over the control having application of S @ 20 kg ha-1. Total N in leaves
increased 13.26 % over the control by sulfur. Similarly the average total N across S levels in leaves samples was
increased up to (1.14 %) @ 150 kg N ha-1 from (0.84 %) over the control having no N application. The percent
increase of total N in leaves was 35.71 % over the control. The percent increase of N in leaves of maize by the
application of N was more than S showing that nitrogen is more important in maize crop than S. Increase in N
content of maize leaves by N application might be due to that N is the basic constituent of chlorophyll in this
way N increases leaves weight and leaf area as found by [28]. Similarly the increase in N content in leaves by S
application was significant because S application increases protein content in grains as well as in leaves which
in turn enhance the consumption of N by plants. Same results were found by [25].
Table 2: Impact of N and S on yield and quality parameters of maize.
Treatments
Plant height Grain Yield
Biological Yield
(cm)
(kg/ha)
(kg/ha)
Nitrogen levels
(kg/ha)
N1 = 0
181 b
2608 b
6239 b
N2 = 120
198 ab
2901 b
8432 a
N3 = 150
205 a
3244 a
8990 a
LSD (P≤0.05)
13.18
317.0
1274.0
Sulfur levels
(kg/ha)
S1= 0
186 b
2601 b
7378
S2 = 20
189 b
2880 ab
7866
S3 = 30
209 a
3098 a
7920
S4 = 40
195 ab
3090 a
8383
LSD (P≤0.05)
15.22
366.0
Non-Significant
Mean values with different letter(s) in a column are significantly different at P≤0.05
LSD = Least significant difference.
Stover Yield
(kg/ha)
N concentration in
leaves (%)
3631 b
5719 a
5980 a
1123.54
0.84 c
1.06 b
1.14 a
0.06
5228
4987
4821
5404
Non-Significant
0.98 b
0.97 b
0.99 b
1.11 a
0.07
Sulfur Use Efficiency SUE (Kg Yield/Kg of applied S):
Sulfur Use Efficiency of the conducted experiment is given in Table 3. Sulfur Use Efficiency was
considerably affected by S levels at all N levels. Increasing levels of S will decrease the S efficiency at given N
level except at 150 kg N ha-1 where it was high at 30 kg S ha-1 as compared to 20 or 40 kg S ha-1. But with
application of N, increase in N levels increased the SUE of the given S levels suggesting synergistic effect. As
such the maximum SUE (45.9 %) was noted in the plots receiving 150 kg N ha -1 in combination with 30 kg S ha1
followed by 43.8 % in the plots receiving 150 kg N ha -1 in combination with 20 kg S ha-1 while minimum (14.3
%) was noted in the plots receiving 0 kg N ha -1 along with 40 kg S ha-1. Sulfur use efficiency highly enhanced
with the application of N because of the synergistic effect in between S and N. Fismes et al. [5] also presented
the same results and clarified that application of S fertilizers improves the Nitrogen use efficiency.
Table 3: Sulfur use efficiency (Kg Yield/Kg of applied S) of maize as influenced by Nitrogen
Sulfur (kg ha-1)
Nitrogen (kg ha-1)
20
0
30
0
40
0
20
120
30
120
40
120
20
150
30
150
SUE
26.7
21.6
14.3
36.1
25.4
20.2
43.8
45.9
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40
150
34.5
Nitrogen Use Efficiency NUE (Kg Yield/Kg of applied N):
Data concerning NUE of maize as affected by addition of S is shown in Table 4. NUE was highly affected
with the application of S. Maximum NUE (9.21 %) was noted in plot receiving 150 kg N ha -1 along with 40 kg
S ha-1 followed by 9.18 % in the plot receiving 150 kg N ha -1 along with 30 kg S ha-1 while plot receiving 150
kg N ha-1 with no application of S have minimum NUE (4.42 %). The data shows that N use efficiency was
deeply related with the application of S indicating the synergistic effect in between S and N and also S
application increases the N recovery from the soil. Same result was also found by [4].
Table 4: NUE (Kg Yield/Kg of applied N) of maize as affected by application of sulfur
Sulfur(kg ha-1)
Nitrogen (kg ha-1)
0
120
20
120
30
120
40
120
0
150
20
150
30
150
40
150
NUE
5.29
6.01
6.35
6.74
4.42
5.84
9.18
9.21
Conclusion:
From the above results it was concluded that sulfur application significantly affected grain yield (GY), plant
height. Higher grain yield, plant height were recorded @ 30 kg S ha-1and and higher total nitrogen in leaves was
noted at 40 kg S ha-1. Biological yield and Stover yield were found non-significant at various sulfur treatments,
while all the studied parameters showed minimum values at control.
Nitrogen application significantly affected grain yield, plant height, biological yield, Stover yield and total
nitrogen concentration in leaves. All the above mentioned parameters were higher at 150 kg N ha-1.
From the above mentioned conclusions, it was recommended thatsulfur @ 30 kg ha-1 in combination with
nitrogen @ 150 kg ha-1should be applied for improving nutrient status of soil and higher grain yield in maize at
District Malakand, Pakistan.
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