Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Related links
Share
Agrociencia (Uruguay)
Print version ISSN 1510-0839On-line version ISSN 2301-1548
Abstract
GARCIALAMOTHE, Adriana; QUINCKE, Andrés J. and SAWCHIK, Jorge. Soybean Response to Sulfur in Typic Arguidolls of Southwestern Uruguay. Agrociencia Uruguay [online]. 2017, vol.21, n.2, pp.44-53. ISSN 1510-0839.
Sulfur (S) is an essential nutrient, necessary to maintain crop productivity. Agriculture intensification in Uruguay has increasedthe risk of nutrient deficiencies in soils. The goal of this study was to explore soybean response to S application and the feasibilityof using soil sulfate concentration, and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) as indicators of S-availability. Thirteen field trialswere conducted during six growing seasons (2007 to 2012) at the Experimental Station La Estanzuela, Colonia, on typicalArgiudols of the area. Sulfur as gypsum was applied at rates of 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg S ha-1, with treatments allocated in fourcomplete randomized blocks. Variation in precipitation amount and distribution affected soybean grain yield across the yearsand thereby fertilization response. Only in two trials yield responses were statistically significant, with increases that amountedabout 15 %. For the soils studied, positive responses to S would be likely when soil sulfate concentration is less than 5 mg kg-1at planting. In such cases yield increases ranged between 204 and 467 kg ha-1. When soil sulfate test is higher, odds for yieldincreases from applied S are low, with chances of observing negative responses, too. No relation between PMN and yieldresponse could be found.
Keywords : gypsum; sulfate; potentially mineralizable nitrogen.