The effect of sulfur fertilization on macronutrient concentrations in the post-harvest biomass of rapeseed (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera Metzg)

Abstract

Brassica oilseed crops have very high sulfur requirements. The progressive decrease in the sulfur content of soil, the growing share of cruciferous vegetables in agricultural ecosystems and a significant drop in annual wet and dry deposition of sulfur have prompted a growing body of research into sulfur as a valuable fertilizer ingredient. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sulfur fertilizers applied to soil on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur concentrations in the root residues, straw and oil cake of winter and spring rapeseed. The experimental material was collected from a field experiment conducted in 2005-2008 at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Bałcyny (Poland). The highest concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur were noted in the oil cake of both winter and spring rapeseed. Potassium levels were highest in the root residues of winter and spring rapeseed. Winter rapeseed accumulated the highest amounts of calcium in roots, and spring rapeseed-in straw. Sulfur fertilizers applied to soil decreased nitrogen concentrations and increased calcium and sulfur levels in the roots of both spring and winter rapeseed, whereas phosphorus concentrations increased only in the roots of winter rapeseed. Sulfur fertilization led to a drop in the potassium content of winter rapeseed roots (by 0.7 g kg-1 DM) and an increase in potassium levels in spring rapeseed roots (by 1.2 g kg-1 DM). The application of sulfur fertilizers significantly increased potassium and sulfur concentrations in the straw of both spring and winter rapeseed (by 1.3-1.7 and 0.5-0.6 g kg-1 DM, respectively). The application of sulfur fertilizers at optimal

Productivity, Energy and Economic Balance in the Production of Different Cultivars of Winter Oilseed Rape. A Case Study in North-Eastern Poland

“…From the economic point of view, the production of winter oilseed rape generates direct profits from the sale of seeds and indirect profits by increasing the yield of successive crops, in particular, cereals [86]. Oilseed rape is an attractive preceding crop for cereals because field residues are rapidly decomposed (narrow C:N ratio), they are abundant in macronutrients and micronutrients, and act as biofumigation agents [87][88][89]. The seed yield of winter wheat increased by 0.8 to 1.5 Mg ha −1 when grown after winter oilseed rape than when cultivated in a continuous monoculture [90,91].…”

Crambe: Seed Yield and Quality in Response to Nitrogen and Sulfur—A Case Study in Northeastern Poland

“…Oilseed crops of the family Brassicaceae have high S requirements [81]. In soils with moderate levels of S (10-35 mg SO 2− 4 kg −1 soil [97], seed yields peaked in response to 20-30 kg S ha −1 in B. juncea (traditional and canola type cultivars), C. sativa, and C. abyssinica [68,81,84,85,98]; 40 kg S ha −1 in B. napus (spring cultivars) and S. alba; and 40 to 80 kg S ha −1 in B. napus (winter cultivars) [81,83,99]. The current study was conducted on Haplic Luvisol originating from boulder clay with moderate SO 2− 4 levels, and crambe yields increased up to the S rate of 15 kg ha −1 (5%), mainly due to the beneficial influence of S on TSW and, to a lesser degree, on the number of seeds plant −1 .…”

“…In Poland, the annual SO 2 emissions to ambient air have decreased nearly five-fold (2.53 vs. 0.56 million Mg) in the past 27 years (1990-2017) [82]. In crops of the family Brassicaceae, S fertilizers not only increase yields, but also influence the quality of agricultural products, including oil, fat-free seed residues, and harvest residues [81,[83][84][85]. Sulfur fertilization is much more likely to affect total protein concentration than crude fat concentration in the seeds of Brassica oilseed crops [86] because S actively participates in the synthesis of major S-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) [87].…”

Importance of Nutrients on Growth and Development: A Review

“…Phosphorous stimulates strong root growth and helps in the development of seeds, flowers, and fruits. Potassium improves proper growth of fruit and flowers, maintaining colour, good size and quantity (Jankowski et al, 2015).…”