The Application of S 0 -Coated Fertilizer to Durum Wheat Crop

Elemental sulfur (S0) is an ideal slow release S fertilizer with a long history as soil amendment. Recently, S0 has been attached successfully onto the surface of the beads of a commercial fertilizer (F) via a binder (B) by Sulphur Hellas S.A, under the commercial name “Sulfogrow” (FBS0). F beads act as a core effectively covered by an amount of 2% (w/w) of S0 yellow dust. To assess and evaluate the effectiveness of FBS0, we monitored the nutritional dynamics of a durum wheat (Triticum durum, Poaceae) commercial crop. The field was divided into two parts; one subject to control F-treatment, and one with the FBS0-treatment. Rhizosphere pH, organic matter and humic substances contents were monitored, along with the dry mass, and sulfate, total sulfur, organic nitrogen and iron concentrations in the aerial plant part. The FBS0-treated crop presented denser plantation with more robust plants; the accumulated amounts of iron and organic nitrogen per plant were found to be increased at day 61 after sowing in the aerial part by 120% and by 43% respectively, comprising early effects. After day 100, the accumulated dry mass was twice that of control and all accumulation curves were statistically higher than the control ones. The time-course curve of the relative percentage changes (RC) of iron presented in reverse the pattern of sulfate; in contrast, the time-course curve of organic sulfur RC followed the pattern of organic nitrogen RC precisely.