EFFECTS OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR AND MYCORRHIZAE ON THE YIELD OF WHEAT IN DIFFERENT SOILS

Abstract

Yield responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to elemental sulfur (S), mycorrhizae (mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae), and phosphorus (P) alone and collectively in two different soils were investigated. Plants were grown on calcareous sterilized Karaburun and Menekşe soils (sub-group of Typic Xerorthent). In the all treatments mycorrhizae inoculation alone compared to the control treatment increased shoot and root yields. The yield responses to S alone, P alone, and combined application of S and P in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal treatments in two different soils were interestingly fluctuating. The findings obtained in this study indicated that S tended to increase the efficiency of mycorrhizae in the well aerated Karaburun soil in comparison to a less aerated (heavier textured) Menekşe soil. This potential to increase the efficiency of mycorrhizae on the root growth indicate that yield increase of shoot and grain can occur being an important finding for ecological agriculture.

Keywords:

• wheat
• mycorrhizae
• elemental sulfur
• phosphorus
• potential

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project was funded by Cukurova University Research Foundation. Appreciation is extended to Drs. Z. Kaya, and R. Akiş for helpful comments on the manuscript.