Effects of Supplemental Sulfur on Growth and Stress Tolerance of Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
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Authors
Wasmer, Nicholas
Issue Date
2007-04-27
Type
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Atmospheric sulfur dioxide emissions have become greatly reduced leading
to reduced amounts of sulfate in soils. Without supplemental sulfur (S)
fertilization, S may become a limiting nutrient. Sulfur is a constituent of
some essential amino acids, which are needed for the production of all
compounds containing reduced sulfur including coenzymes and proteins.
Sulfur is also essential in reducing disease, toxicity, and other stress.
Pathogen resistance and vulnerability to stress are directly linked to S
incorporation because S is an essential component of metabolites such as
glutathione, glucosinolates, and several defensive S-rich proteins.
When S is the limiting nutrient, nitrogen utilization is affected because S is
essential to produce the nitrogen-containing amino acids cystine and
methionine. These compounds directly affect photosynthesis, growth, and
dry mass accumulation of crops and are also incorporated in defense
compounds. Ideally, nitrogen applications can be reduced if accompanied
with adequate S concentrations.
By improving nutrition with adequate amounts of essential nutrients, S
fertilizers have repeatedly shown increased crop yield and plant size. The
purpose of this experiment was to determine which supplemental
concentration of S and N in substrate solution was optimal for the growth
and stress tolerance of red maple trees grown in high porosity (HP) media.
Our hypothesis was supplemental S would lead to an increase in N uptake,
thereby improving growth and stress tolerance in maples, while minimizing
N leaching.
Description
1 broadside : ill.
Diebold Scholar
Diebold Scholar
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo College