Variations in essential and non-essential element composition and yield of silage corn fertilized with sulfur

Abstract

The effect of sulfur fertilization on the silage yield and essential and non-essential element composition of silage corn was investigated at the Experimental Field of Research and Experiment Station of the Ankara University during the years 2002 and 2003. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replications. Sulfur was applied at 1000 (S1) and 1500 (S2) kg ha-1 as gypsum. Element concentration of the plants was measured by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Sulfur fertilization increased S concentrations and improved silage corn yield for both years. Applied S reduced P and Mo concentrations, increased Fe and Mn concentrations, and had no significant effect on the K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Cl concentrations of silage corn. Non-essential element composition of silage corn was also influenced by S fertilization. Applied S significantly increased Sr and Pb, reduced Si, Ba and U, while had no effect on Na, Ti, Ni, Br and Rb concentrations of silage corn. In the current work, essential and non-essential element concentrations of silage corn in 2002 and 2003 years under our experimental conditions were as follows; 1.58-1.89 S, 1.07-1.046 P, 14.3-15.9 K, 8.35-9.20 Ca, 3.34-4.28 Mg, 0.26-0.53 Na, 1.36-2.46 Cl, 38.4-42.1 Si as g kg-1, and 2.06-3.13 Mo, 140-144 Fe, 6.08-17.69 Zn, 104-116 Mn, 9.37-12.2 Cu, 23.9-22.6 Ti, 2.10-2.31 Ni, 6.54-6.71 Br, 7.04-8.74 Rb, 94.8-118.8 Sr, 24.0-31.51 Ba, 1.20-2.22 Pb and 3.17-4.07 U as mg kg-1. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.