Effect of sulfur on nitrogen/sulfur uptake/distribution and yield of maize

For an in-depth understanding of the effects of sulfur on crop yield improvement, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of sulfur application on the absorption and distribution of both nitrogen and sulfur in the'Zhengdang-958'maize cultivar. To that end, a single factor randomized block design was set up in the experiment with five levels of sulfur-0 kg·hm^-2, 40 kg·hm^-2, 80 kg·hm^-2, 120 kg·hm^-2 and 160 kg·hm^-2. The results showed that the application of sulfur increased the yield of maize within the range of 7.0%-18.1%. When the application of sulfur was 80 kg·hm^-2, the yield of maize reached the highest level (12 978.30 kg·hm^-2). Also dry matter accumulation in maize increased significantly through the application of sulfur, with the peak value under 80 kg·hm^-2 at all growth stage except for the big trumpet stage. Dry matter accumulation in leaf, leaf sheath and grain weight were also the highest in 80 kg·hm^-2 sulfur treatment among different sulfur application levels at the mature stage. However, the dry matter accumulation in maize stem, bract and cob were the maximum under sulfur application level of 40 kg·hm^-2. Sulfur absorption and accumulation in maize was the maximum at each growth period under sulfur dose of 80 kg·hm^-2, which was significantly higher than that under sulfur dose of 0 kg·hm^-2. Sulfur content in maize leaf increased with increasing sulfur application level. The sulfur accumulation in corn stalk, bract and cob were highest under sulfur application level of 40 kg·hm^-2 whereas those in maize leaf sheath and grain were highest under sulfur application level of 80 kg·hm^-2. Nitrogen accumulation in maize was highest from jointing to the silking stage when sulfur dose was 120 kg·hm^-2. But at maize grain-filling and maturity stages, the nitrogen accumulation reached the peak points under 40 kg·hm^-2 and 80 kg·hm^-2 levels application, respectively. Sulfur partial productivity and use productivity decreased with increasing sulfur application level. When sulfur dose was 40 kg·hm^-2, sulfur partial productivity and use productivity reached the highest values. The agronomic efficiency of sulfur was largest under sulfur dose of 80 kg·hm^-2. Sulfur accumulation was positively correlated with nitrogen accumulation. In conclusion, fertilization using sulfur (at 40-120 kg·hm^-2) had high yield and fertilizer use efficiency. All in all, sulfur application was critical for nitrogen and sulfur uptake, distribution and use efficiency of maize. The overall effect was best under sulfur application level of 80 kg·hm^-2.