Upland Rice Growth and Mineral Nutrition as Affected by Cultivars and Sulfur Availability

• Grant number: 12/24397-4
• Support type: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Duration: February 01, 2013 - July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol
• Grantee: Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A better understanding of the differential growth of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars with increasing soil S availability could help improve rice yield under upland conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate root and shoot growth and nutrition of upland traditional and modern rice cultivars as affected by S availability. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 (rates of S) x 3 (cultivars) factorial with four replications. Low availability of S in the soil reduces root and shoot development and the efficiency of N, P, and S uptake, as well as the concentration and content of these nutrients in rice cultivars. At 0 mg dm3 of S, rice cultivars prioritize root growth over shoots, and the traditional cultivar does so with greater intensity. Our resultssuggested that more development of traditional cultivars under low S availability facilitates its adaptation in soils under this condition. On the other hand, the intermediate and modern cultivars are more responsive to S fertilization.Moreover, S fertilization allows significant increases in upland rice growth and must be considered in cropping systems aiming for high yields. (AU)