Nitrogen and sulfate fertilization applied at seeding, via conventional fertilizer and fertilizer containing S0, for corn nutrition and grain yield

Abstract

The N and S availability in the early stages of corn development is important that there be no compromising of the crop yield potential. An experiment was carried out in field conditions with the aim to evaluate the effects of nitrogen and sulfated fertilization at maize sowing on nutrition and grain yield, compared to conventional fertilizers and a concentrated formula containing S in its elemental form and also readily available. A randomized block design was adopted with six treatments and four replications. T1, T2, T3 and T4 corresponded to the application 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha^-1 of the formula 13-33-00 + S 15%, which corresponds, respectively, the following rates NS, kg ha^-1: 13-15, 26-30, 39-45 and 52-60. This fertilizer is a granulated mixture has 50% S in the form of sulphate and 50% in elemental form. The treatments T5 and T6 (control) consisted of applying 30 kg ha^-1 N (urea) and 40 kg ha^-1 S (superphosphate), respectively. The application of N and S at sowing did not significantly alter the concentration of these nutrients in the leaf and grain yield of maize. Comparing the sources superphosphate and urea or 13-33-00 + 15% S no significant difference was observed.