Effect of Sulfur on the Yield and Essential and Nonessential Element Composition of Alfalfa Determined by Polarized Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

• Published in: Communications in soil science and plant analysis Vol. 40; no. 13-14; pp. 2264 - 2284
• Main Authors: Gunes, A, Inal, A, Pilbeam, D.J, Kadioglu, Y.K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group, LLC 01-08-2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Alfalfa; application rate; Biological and medical sciences; chemical composition; chemical concentration; chemical constituents of plants; elements; fertilizer application; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; gypsum; hay; Medicago sativa; nutrient uptake; Other nutrients. Amendments. Solid and liquid wastes. Sludges and slurries; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; sulfur fertilization; sulfur fertilizers; x-ray fluorescence; yields; Turkey (country); X ray fluorescence; Medicago sativa; Alfalfa; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Sulfur fertilization; elements; Spermatophyta; Fodder crop; Sulfur; Lucerne; Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis; x-ray fluorescence
• DOI: 10.1080/00103620902961235
• EISSN: 1532-2416
• ISSN: 0010-3624

Alfalfa crops were grown in the field at the University of Ankara (473939 E, 4385149 N), over two seasons between 2001 and 2003 with sulfur (S) supplied at two different rates. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five replicates and three cutting dates in each season. Sulfur was applied at rates of 0 (control), 160 (S1), and 240 (S2) kg ha-1 as gypsum. Alfalfa hay was harvested three times each year, and the concentrations of elements in the hay were measured by polarized energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Sulfur fertilization increased S concentrations and improved alfalfa hay yield for both years. Applied S slightly reduced phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in the first year and had no significant effect on the potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) concentrations of alfalfa hay for either year. The highest S (240 kg ha-1 S) level increased sodium (Na) concentrations in the first year but decreased them in the second year. Sulfur application also decreased chloride (Cl) concentration in the first year. Molybdenum (Mo) concentration of the alfalfa was significantly reduced by S1 treatment in year 1. Iron (Fe) concentration was increased by S2 treatment in the second year, and zinc (Zn) concentration was increased by S1 treatment in the first year. However, applied S had no effect on manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), barium (Ba), uranium (U), and lead (Pb) concentrations for either year. Applied S decreased aluminum (Al) and silicon (Si) and increased bromine (Br) and rubidium (Rb) concentrations of alfalfa in the first year. In addition, strontium (Sr) concentration was increased by S2 treatment in the first year but was decreased in the second year. The stage of cutting greatly affected mineral concentrations. Compared with the first cutting, S concentrations were higher in the second and third harvest for both years. In general, the concentrations of P, Mg, Na, Cl, Mo, Ti, V, Br, Co, Ba, Sr, Rb, U, and Pb were increased, whereas the concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Ni were decreased with later cutting. The concentrations of K and Ca did not vary between cuts.