Effect of sulfur application on the main morphological physical chemical and micromorphological properties of soil and on production of some field crops.

Abstract

Two field and laboratory experiments were carried out to study the effect of sulfur application on the main morphological, physical, chemical and micromorphological properties of soils, as well as, on the productivity of some field crops.

A 3-season field experiment (Nov. 1996-May 1998) was conducted on calcareous soil of EI-Nubaria Agricultural Research Station Farm (46.0 km south of Alex.) where wheat, maize and faba bean were cultivated. Elemental sulfur mixed with organic manure at a rate of 2 m3/fed. was added to soil surface only once

at the beginning of the first growing season at the rates 0, 200,

400, 600, 800 and_ 1000 kg S/fed, taking the symbols So, S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5, respectively. A randomized complete block experiment design with 6 treatments and 4 replicates was applied, and the essential NPK. fertilizers were added to the cultivated crops.

Representative soil profiles were described before and after the experiment, soil samples were analyzed, and also some field measurements were carried out. Undisturbed soil samples (0-30 em) were taken by the end of the experiment from all treatments to prepare thin sections for the micromorphological study, and the main crop characters were also measured.

With regard to the laboratory experiment, clay and calcareous soils were used. The clay soil sample was brought from El-Bosaily area, near Rosetta, while the calcareous one was taken from the same site of the field experiment (NARS. Farm). Soil samples were air-dried, ground and mixed with organic manure at