Combined Effects of Farmyard Manure (FYM) and Elemental Sulfur (S)on Soil Chemical Properties, Growth, Yield, Leaf Water and Nutrient Contents of Corn Plant Grown on Sandy Clay Loam Soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural and Veterinary Training and Research Station of King Faisal University (KFU), Al-Hassa region during 2006 growing season of corn (Zea mays, L.). The objective of this work was to investigate the combined ffect of farmyard manure (FYM) and elemental sulfur (S) on soil chemical characteristics, growth, yield, and leaf water and nutrients contents of corn. The experimental soil has a sandy clay loam texture. All plots (17.5 m²) cultivated with corn received 78.5 kg N/ha in the form of ammonium nitrate (33.5% N), 150.0 kg K 2 O/ha in the form of potassium sulfate (48% K 2 O) and 88.0 kg P/ha in the form of calciumsuperphosphate (15.5% P 2 O 5). Farmyard manure was applied to the soil at rates of 0, 14.0, 28.0 and 56.0 ton/ha and elemental sulfur (S) at rates of 0, 360, 720 and 1440 kg/ha. The farmyard manure and elemental sulfur were mixed with the 30 cm top layer of the soil before planting. The obtained results revealed that applications of both FYM and elemental sulfur significantly altered the chemical properties of soil. The electrical conductivity (EC) was significantly increased, while the soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were decreased as a result of FYM and S applications. Also, the results showed a significant effect of FYM and S in improving the available soil nutrients (N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) in which significantly increased with FYM and S applications at all rates. The results also showed that plant fresh weight significantly increased as a result of both FYM and S applications. Also, FYM and S applications, especially at highest levels had significant effects on increasing the grain yield and its components (weight of 100 kernels and grain protein content). Grain yield increased by about 5.34 and 6.20% over the control treatment, respectively. Leaf water contents were improved as a result of FYM and S applications. In the same time leaf total chlorophyll content was significantly increased. Applications of FYM and S significantly improved the leaf contents of macro-and micro-elements.