Effect of sulphur fertilization on growth and chemical composition of sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.) and on utilization of sorghum silage fed to wethers
dc.contributor.author | Ahmad, Muhammad Rashid | en |
dc.contributor.committeechair | Allen, Vivien G. | en |
dc.contributor.committeemember | Fontenot, Joseph P. | en |
dc.contributor.committeemember | Reneau, Raymond B. Jr. | en |
dc.contributor.committeemember | Parrish, David J. | en |
dc.contributor.committeemember | Hawkins, George W. | en |
dc.contributor.department | Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences | en |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-03-14T21:21:29Z | en |
dc.date.adate | 2005-10-19 | en |
dc.date.available | 2014-03-14T21:21:29Z | en |
dc.date.issued | 1991-05-24 | en |
dc.date.rdate | 2005-10-19 | en |
dc.date.sdate | 2005-10-19 | en |
dc.description.abstract | Sulphur (S) is an essential element for plant and animal nutrition, but widespread deficiencies of S occur world wide. Current recommendations for nitrogen (N):S ratios are 15 to 18:1 and 10 to 12:1 for plant and animal nutrition, respectively; but recent information suggests these may not predict animal response. Sorghum is an important crop, particularly in drier climatic regions but little is known concerning S-nutrition for sorghum growth or utilization of S-fertilized forages. Sorghum "Pioneer 947" was grown on a Lucy loamy sand (loamy, siliceous, thermic Arenic Kandiudult) in King William County, VA, with and without S fertilization (0 vs. 138 kg S ha⁻¹ as ammonium sulphate) in a randomized block design with four replications. Sulphur fertilization decreased (P < 0.05) soil pH and increased soil S in the 0 to 25 cm (P < 0.08) and 25 to 50 cm (P < 0.05) soil layers. An increase in Mehlich-I extractable soil P, Mn (P < 0.05) and soil N0₃-N (P < 0.06) at surface 25 cm layer occurred with S-fertilization. At harvest, S-fertilization increased (P < 0.05) S and water soluble carbohydrates and decreased (P < 0.05) N:S ratio and P concentration in whole plants. Sorghum leaves were higher (P < 0.05) in N, S, Ca, Mn and Cu in S fertilized compared to non-S fertilized sorghum. Sulphur fertilization decreased (P < 0.05) concentration of hydrocyanic acid (HCN) in the upper three leaves. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the Lucy soil and 'Pioneer 947' sorghum to further investigate effects of fertilization (0, 70, and 140 kg S ha ⁻¹) as ammonium sulphate in a completely randomized design with five replications. Sulphur application decreased soil pH, and extractable soil K linearly (P < 0.01), and increased extractable soil S linearly (P < 0.01). | en |
dc.description.degree | Ph. D. | en |
dc.format.extent | xii, 149 leaves | en |
dc.format.medium | BTD | en |
dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
dc.identifier.other | etd-10192005-113302 | en |
dc.identifier.sourceurl | http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-10192005-113302/ | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/39958 | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
dc.relation.haspart | LD5655.V856_1991.A442.pdf | en |
dc.relation.isformatof | OCLC# 24448287 | en |
dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
dc.subject.lcc | LD5655.V856 1991.A442 | en |
dc.subject.lcsh | Sorghum as feed -- Research | en |
dc.subject.lcsh | Sorghum -- Fertilizers | en |
dc.title | Effect of sulphur fertilization on growth and chemical composition of sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.) and on utilization of sorghum silage fed to wethers | en |
dc.type | Dissertation | en |
dc.type.dcmitype | Text | en |
thesis.degree.discipline | Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences | en |
thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
thesis.degree.level | doctoral | en |
thesis.degree.name | Ph. D. | en |
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