Summary
The concentrations of several N fractions, soluble sugars and N/S ratios were determined in Golden Bantam sweet corn and hybrid field corn grown in nutrient solutions and/or soil with various SO4-S levels provided. When the level of SO4-S supplied was less than that needed for maximum growth, higher-than-normal concentrations of amide (asparagine) N and lower-than-normal soluble sugar concentrations were found in the plants. An inadequate S supply appears to limit the plants capacity to synthesize protein to a much greater extent than it inhibits the nitrogen uptake mechanism.
Total N/total S ratios (grammole basis) varying from over 100 to less than 15 were found in plants grown with different levels of sulfate supplied. When SO4-N, NO3-N, and the large amount of amide-N which accumulates under conditions of S deficiency are excluded, the ratio in young corn plants is generally between 22–50. The precision of the N/S ratio as an indicator of S adequacy for growing crops might be improved by a better understanding of the nature of the forms in which N and S occur in plants, and the effects of soil and plant factors other than S level. The percentage of amide-N shows promise as an indicator of S nutrient status. Data available indicates that added S will increase yields of corn plants if their amide-N level exceeds 500 ppm. Amide-N concentration correlates with N/S ratios, and it is much more readily determined than the latter. Its usefulness as a S nutrition indicator should be checked under field conditions.
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Rendig, V.V., Oputa, C. & McComb, E.A. Effects of sulfur deficiency on non-protein nitrogen, soluble sugars, and N/S ratios in young corn (Zea mays L.) plants. Plant Soil 44, 423–437 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015893
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00015893