Ammonium nitrate enriched with sulfur influences wheat yield and soil properties

Abstract

The effect of fertilization with a new fertilizer on Polish market, a mixture of ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate (30% N, 6% S), was analysed in a three-year field experiment. The mixture commonly available on the market (26% N, 13% S) and ammonium nitrate, were used for comparison. Each fertilizer was applied in three doses: 150, 200 and 250 kg N/ha/year (simultaneously, 30, 40 and 50 kg S/ha were introduced with the mixtures). The highest mean (of the three years) grain yield (8.27 t/ha) was obtained after application of 200 kg N and 40 kg S/ha as the new fertilizer, with almost no significant effect of the type and dose of sulfur-containing fertilizers. Sulfur content in the grain was highest after the new fertilizer application; the content increased with increasing fertilizer dose. The highest mean protein (13.9–14.3%) and gluten (28.3–28.9%) content were recorded after application of 250 kg N/ha, and Zeleny sedimentation index (45.0–45.3 cm3) – after application of 250 kg N and 50 kg S/ha, regardless of the fertilizer. Sulfur intensified the acidifying effect of ammonium nitrate and increased the content of sulfates in the soil.