BUFFERING EFFECT OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR ON MYCORRHIZAL INFECTION OF LEEK

The effect of elemental sulfur (S) on the mycorrhizal infection and yield enhancement in leek was investigated. Plants were grown on a calcareous Karaburun soil (sub-group typic xerorthent) from a farm of the University of Cukurova, Adana, Turkey. Sterilized soil with and without the addition of elemental sulfur resulted in significant biomass increase of both root and shoot dry matter. The buffering effect of the elemental sulfur against the decreasing effect of phosphorus for the inoculation percent was also observed. This new finding about the efficiency of the mycorrhizae with the optimum inoculation rate resulting from the addition of 100 ppm elemental sulfur to the application inoculated with mycorrhizae indicates that it is of major scientific interest for ecologic agriculture.