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Effects of Elemental Sulphur Application Rates on Soil Al3+ Solubility and Its Concentration in Maize Plants (Zea mays L.)

Karimizarchi, M., Aminuddin, H., Khanif, M. Y. and Radziah, O.

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, Volume 40, Issue 4, November 2017

Keywords: Soil acidification, Al3+ toxicity, maize growth

Published on: 3 Nov 2017

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to elucidate the influence of soil acidification due to application of different doses of elemental sulphur (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g S kg-1 soil) on Al3+ solubility at 0, 20 and 40 days after incubation. Maize plants were grown after soil treatment with the elemental S and were allowed to grow for 45 days. The results showed that addition of elemental sulphur significantly increased the soil acidity; each g S decreased soil pH for 1.52 units. The Al3+ concentration in soil remained rather unchanged from the pH value of 7.3 to around 5 and experienced a 22000-time increase at the pH value of 4. Soil acidification from the background of 7.03 to 6.29 resulted in 41.83% increase in root Al3+ concentration and it was not significantly affected with further soil acidification. Soil acidification progressively decreased Al3+ concentration in the stem but it failed to affect Al3+ concentration in the leaves. The optimum rate of sulphur for maize without the risk of Al3+ toxicity under greenhouse conditions was 0.82 g S kg-1 soil. Further evaluation under field conditions is required.

ISSN 1511-3701

e-ISSN 2231-8542

Article ID

JTAS-0833-2016

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