Sulfur nutrition effects on dinitrogen fixation of seedling alfalfa

Greenhouse experiments with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cv. ‘Apollo') were performed to evaluate the effect of varied nutrient solution concentrations of S on the yield, nodulation, dinitrogen fixation, N and S concentration, and the partitioning of N and S into shoots and roots.

Sulfur treatments consisted of four levels (0, 1, 2.5, and 25 mg S/L) of added S. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, with three replications. Seeds were inoculated with commercial inoculum, planted in plastic containers of acid‐washed sand, and irrigated with nutrient solution for one minute, at 2 h intervals.

Sulfur application increased the yield of all treatments. The results demonstrated that the addition of 2.5 mg S/L to the nutrient solution, besides providing the highest total dry matter yield (12 g/72 plants), showed the highest percent yield increase (19%), acetylene reduction rate (0.426 umole ethylene/mg nodule dry wt/h), total N content (306 mg/72 plants), percent recovery of S (3.8%), and percent increase in N due to dinitrogen fixation (32%).

N:S ratios obtained were different for shoots and roots, with S application decreasing the N:S ratios. The N:S ratios of 16:1 (shoots), and 9:1 (roots) obtained in the 2.5 mg S/L treatment were found to be adequate for normal growth and development.

These data indicated that the 2.5 mg S/L treatment (2.7 mg total S/L) was optimal for alfalfa seedling development.