Studies were conducted on three field trials of wheat cv. Kopara to investigate the lack of compensation by later determined components of yield because of early disease constraints. The investigation was based on the hypothesis that early disease reduces root development and thus causes the plants to be water constrained at later growth stages when soil water deficits usually occur. The reduced root development and soil water deficits may reduce the ability of the plant to compensate for reductions in early determined components. The hypothesis was tested by the application of irrigation to alleviate water stress. In a disease free crop, the possible phytotonic effects of the fungicides benomyl and triadimefon on wheat were investigated. These fungicides had no phytotonic effects on shoot, root growth, or yield under the prevailing conditions. The effect of disease on root development was analysed by root length measurements. Disease present in the crop at any stage of growth affected root development. Root development in the upper zones of the soil profile was reduced more by disease compared to those zones below 35 cm. A full disease epidemic reduced root development more than an early or late disease epidemic. The early and late disease epidemics had similar effects on root length. Alleviation of early disease constraints enabled greater development of roots to offset any earlier reductions. Soil water deficits increased root development in the lower zones of the nil disease plants. The presence of adequate soil water from irrigation reduced the requirement for further root growth in all treatments. In the 1981-1982 field trial a full disease epidemic reduced yield by 14% whereas an early disease epidemic reduced yield by 7%. The reduction in yield was attributed to a lower grain number. With irrigation the yield reduction in the full disease plants was 12% whereas in the early disease plants the reduction was only 2.4%. This indicated that plants affected by the early disease epidemic were water constrained. In this study, the results suggested that, for conditions prevailing in Canterbury, the supply of water at later growth stages increased grain weight in plants which were subject to early disease epidemics. This suggests that reduced root development caused by early disease and soil water deficits may prevent compensation by grain weight. Water use was similar in all disease treatments. After irrigation the irrigated plants of all treatments used more water. Disease affected water use in relation to yield production however, and was better expressed by water use efficiency. Water use efficiency was reduced in the full disease plants. A stepwise regression analysis suggested that water use efficiency was affected directly by disease at later growth stages, and indirectly via an effect on total green leaf area at early growth stages. This study partially proves the hypothesis that reductions in root development caused by an early disease epidemic may constrain the plants at later growth stages when water deficits usually occur. It was shown that the reduction in root development caused by disease could be counteracted by irrigation. In this respect, water served as a tool to study the effect of disease constraints on the yield of wheat. A knowledge of cereal crop physiology, root growth and function is used to explain and discuss the observations made in this research programme. The results are discussed in relation to the way in which disease affects yield through its effect on root development. The possible reasons for the continued effects of disease even after the control of disease at later growth stages are discussed. The economic use of fungicides and water in diseased crops are also outlined. Suggestions for future studies on disease-yield loss relationships are provided. The repetition of these experiments in different sites and climatic regions could provide information which may be incorporated in disease-yield loss simulation models. This could then be used to predict root development and water requirements of diseased plants, and provide a basis for economic use of fungicides and water, and for better disease management programmes.

[Truncated abstract] Insufficient water use by annual crop and pasture species leading to costly rises in saline watertables has prompted research into potentially profitable deep-rooted perennial species in the Western Australian wheatbelt. Native mallee eucalypts are currently being developed as a short-rotation coppice crop for production of leaf oils, activated carbon and bio-electricity for low rainfall areas (300—450 mm) too dry for many of the traditional timber and forage species. The research in this study was aimed at developing a knowledge base necessary to grow and manage coppiced mallee eucalypts for both high productivity and salinity control. This firstly necessitated identification of suitable species, climatic and site requirements favourable to rapid growth, and understanding of factors likely to affect yield of the desirable leaf oil constituent, 1,8-cineole. This was undertaken using nine mallee taxa at twelve sites with two harvest regimes. E. kochii subsp. plenissima emerged as showing promise in the central and northern wheatbelt, particularly at a deep acid sand site (Gn 2.61; Northcote, 1979), so further studies focussed on physiology of its resprouting, water use and water-use efficiency at a similar site near Kalannie. Young E. kochii trees were well equipped with large numbers of meristematic foci and adequate root starch reserves to endure repeated shoot removal. The cutting season and interval between cuts were then demonstrated to have a strong influence on productivity, since first-year coppice growth was slow and root systems appeared to cease in secondary growth during the first 1.5—2.5 years after cutting. After decapitation, trees altered their physiology to promote rapid replacement of shoots. Compared to uncut trees, leaves of coppices were formed with a low carbon content per unit area, and showed high stomatal conductance accompanied by high leaf photosynthetic rates. Whole-plant water use efficiency of coppiced trees was unusually high due to their fast relative growth rates associated with preferential investments of photosynthates into regenerating canopies rather than roots. Despite relatively small leaf areas on coppice shoots over the two years following decapitation, high leaf transpiration rates resulted in coppices using water at rates far in excess of that falling as rain on the tree belt area. Water budgets showed that 20 % of the study paddock would have been needed as 0—2 year coppices in 5 m wide twin-row belts in order to maintain hydrological balance over the study period. Maximum water use occurred where uncut trees were accessing a fresh perched aquifer, but where this was not present water budgets still showed transpiration of uncut trees occurring at rates equivalent to 3—4 times rainfall incident on the tree belt canopy. In this scenario, only 10 % of the paddock surface would have been required under 5 m wide tree belts to restore hydrological balance, but competition losses in adjacent pasture would have been greater

Water is a vital component for human survival but unsustainable patterns of water consumption are still evident internationally. In South Africa, water conservation has traditionally been limited to the responsibility of the state, with little effort being made by the consumers. However, as water scarcity increasingly becomes a problem, government and residents need to find out how urban South Africans can access water and implement water conservation methods in their homes without the support of government supervision programmes. This study explores the relationship between urban residences in two different parts of Johannesburg (Meadowlands in Soweto and Florida in Roodepoort) and their consumption, perception and usage of water and its conservation. Based on interviews with residents from different backgrounds, the results of this research show that residents have varied but generally limited concern for water issues. Findings from this study indicate that for a resident to conserve water, the type of abode in which he/she lives is irrelevant. Whether the resident lives in suburban home or small government funded housing, the attitudes of the interviewees and the perceptions which they expressed regarding solutions to the water dilemma proved to be similar: people in these urban areas are aware of the importance of water conservation, however, there is limited practice thereof. / Geography / M. Sc. (Geography)

Enligt Världshälsoorganisationen, WHO, behöver människan använda minst 20 liter vatten per dag (Reed & Reed, 2013). I Sverige är vattenanvändningen ca 160 liter per person och dygn i hushållet (Svenskt vatten, 2016) och ungefär 87 % av Sveriges befolkning är anslutna till det kommunala vatten- och avloppsledningsnätet (SCB, 2016a). Dricksvattnet i Sveriges används bl.a. till mat, tvätt och toalettspolning. Svenskt Vattens riktlinjer för den dimensionerande vattenanvändningen baseras på bl.a. publikationen P83:s dimensionering av svenska vatten- och spillvattensystem. Dimensioneringen ger specifik vattenanvändning samt maxdygn- och maxtimfaktorer för sambanden mellan medelvattenanvändningen per dygn och vattenanvändningen maximalt under ett dygn respektive en timme vid dimensioneringen. I denna studie har påverkan av utomhustemperatur, byggår och socioekonomiska aspekter på vattenanvändningen undersökts. Områden i Göteborg som har undersökts är Hisingen, Centrum samt Östra delen av Göteborg. Dessa grupper och områden har även bl.a. statistiskt undersökts med hjälp av korrelations- och signifikansanalys. På grund av personuppgiftslagen har främst personer över 15 år inkluderats i studien, men även vissa underåriga. Med hjälp av data från Göteborgs Energi AB har dimensioneringsparametrar för områden och grupper kunnat beräknas. Bl.a. visades att medelinkomst oftast var den variabel med signifikant korrelation med dimensioneringsparametrarna. Ett annat resultat var att låginkomsttagare var gruppen med störst specifik vattenanvändning och maxdygnsfaktor. Centrum och Östras vattenanvändning visade signifikant korrelation med utomhustemperaturen år 2013 och 2014. Maxdygnsfaktor och maxtimfaktor (dygn) och maxtimfaktor (år) förefaller vara lämpliga parametrar som kan användas i framtida dimensioneringsberäkningar. / According to the World Health Organization, a human being has to use at least 1-3 liters of water a day (Reed & Reed, 2013). In Sweden, water use in households is about 160 liters per person and day in the household (Svenskt vatten, 2016) and around 87 % of the Swedish population are connected to the municipal water and sewage networks (SCB, 2016a). The drinking water in Sweden is used for many purposes, for example cooking, laundry and toilet flushing. Swedish guidelines for the dimensioning of the water networks is based on the publication P83 dimensions of Swedish water- and wastewater systems. The dimensioning guidelines give maximum day factor and maximum hour factor in relation to mean water usage per day and also one day and one day hour usage maximums. The effects of outdoor temperature, building year and socio-economic characteristics on water usage were investigated in this study. Areas of Gothenburg such as Hisingen, Centrum and Östra were studied. These areas and also specific groups in these areas have also been statistically studied through correlation, significance tests and confidence interval investigation. Due to the Swedish personal record law, children under the age of 16 were included in the study but with a modification. The water use for addresses were obtained from Göteborgs Energi AB. Data quality was ensured before statistical analysis thorough data review and analysis. The study’s result showed that the mean income was usually the only variable with significant correlation with the dimensioning parameters. The low-income group was shown to have the highest specific water usage and maximum day factor. Centrum and Östra’s had significant correlation between water use outdoor temperature during 2013 and 2014. Maximum day factor and maximum hour factor (day) and maximum hour factor (year) were suitable parameter to be used for future water usage calculations.

The purpose of this study was to determine what activities and practices prejudice water conservation in the Steelpoort area. Using this information, context specific environmental education programmes were designed for various sectors of the community. A qualitative research approach was used. Respondents who provided information through interviews and questionnaires included school principals and educators, non-teaching staff members, learners and adult community members. The theory developed from the literature review facilitated the development of qualitative research for the study. The research identified certain activities and practices that contribute to the unsustainable use of water in the area. The respondents suggested that consumers generally need to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable them to effectively conserve and utilise water. Specific programmes intended to meet the needs of the various categories of consumers that will facilitate water conservation and its sustainable use were designed as an outcome and recommendation of the research. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Environmental Education)

Water is a symbol of life. It affects all organisms on earth and its importance is emphasised in times of drought. The human population growth places more demands on our natural resources. As pressures on the available water increases, more measures are required to utilise water sustainably. South Africa is classified as a water stressed country with less than 1700 cubic meters of water available per person per year. Rand Water supplies water to approximately 11 million people in Gauteng. During times of drought, restrictions imposed are aimed mainly at the broader Green Industry. This research investigated international strategies, existing restrictions in Gauteng, and undertook a survey within the Green Industry to determine the most appropriate response. This research proposes a new water supply shortage response plan for Rand Water in Gauteng with a total of four levels of restrictions implemented at different stages of water stress in the system. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

A seguito degli scenari imposti dal cambio climatico il miglioramento dell’efficienza di uso dell’acqua (WUE) delle colture sono divenuti obiettivi fondamentali da perseguire. Il seguente studio pone al centro la WUE come parametro fisiologico cardine nella definizione del comportamento della vite in caso di riduzione della disponibilità idrica e si pone come obiettivo di valutarne le diverse forme di espressione, per individuare quale di queste sia meglio correlata alle performance delle varietà considerate, al fine di ottenere dati oggettivi che consentano di derivare consigli per la messa a punto di una più idonea tecnica irrigua. Nel triennio è stata valutata la risposta fisiologica di Sangiovese e Montepulciano, sottoposti a stress idrico di differente intensità in fasi fenologiche diverse. Inoltre, sono state saggiate le potenzialità genetiche della vite in condizioni di limitata disponibilità idrica attraverso il confronto delle performance di viti di Sangiovese innestate su due diversi portinnesti, ovvero confrontando un genotipo tradizionalmente sensibile, SO4, con uno selezionato in funzione della resistenza allo stress idrico, ovvero M4. Tutte le ricerche sono state condotte implementando apparati di misura innovativi che hanno permesso di ottenere la stima dell’efficienza di uso dell’acqua dell’intera chioma per la durata complessiva di ciascuna prova, poi confrontata con le forme più usuali di espressione di questo parametro fisiologico. Il lavoro rimette in discussione la metodologia e le deduzioni che si possono trarre da determinazioni di WUE condotte su singola foglia che, nella grande maggioranza dei casi, non hanno trovato corrispondenza nelle misure che hanno interessato l’intera chioma. / Within the current climate change scenario, the optimization of irrigation water use in vineyards by improving its water use efficiency (WUE) is a core subject of interest to assure sustainability in viticulture. The following research focuses on the physiological parameter WUE as pivotal in defining the behavior of grapevine under water stress. The aim is to assess the various forms of expression of the parameter, to identify which of these better correlates to the performance of the considered varieties, in order to obtain objective data and to derive recommendations for a more suitable irrigation technique. Over three years we evaluated physiological responses of Sangiovese and Montepulciano vines subjected to progressive water deficit either pre and post-veraison. Moreover, the genetic potential of grapevine under conditions of limited water availability was tested through the comparison of the performance of Sangiovese vines grafted on two different rootstocks; SO4, a traditional susceptible genotype and M4, a recently selected scion supposed to be tolerant to water stress. During the research we also designed, implemented and tested an innovative apparatus able to run automated water deficit experiments and to concurrently monitor whole canopy even for a season long time frame. These measurements were compared to traditional single leaf readings and a general conclusion was that, in most cases, single leaf WUE assessment did not match with the measures obtained from the whole canopy enclosure system.

South Africa is classified as a semi-arid environment with limited natural water sources. Amenity landscapes provide broad ranging benefits for society. Amenity landscapes account for between 31% - 50% of water supplied for domestic and urban use. To reduce water use and water conservation in amenity landscapes, strategies, regulations and interventions are required. Every landscape is a unique complex system with a large number of variables that differ from each other. The variability can be summarized into management/design, irrigation, climatological, edaphic and plant related aspects. Several amenity landscape water use models have been developed around the world and two in South Africa. This study developed a comprehensive South African hydrozone based plant database and an Amenity Landscape Water Use Model South Africa (ALWUMSA). This will improve hydrozoning of amaneity landscapes and ultimately also improve water conserbvation for these sites. It allows users/owners to determine water use requirements through an extensive data gathering, from aspects such as design, management, microclimate, environmental, edaphic, irrigation and plant related factors. Comparisons of results from ALWUMSA to three test sites, selected existing models and a range of scenarios produced results demonstrating that ALWUMSA consistently projected lower water requirements. The model also allows for site aspects to be changed thus encouraging end users to implement specific water saving intiatives with the amenity landscape to reduce water use. These savings will be translated into both water-use savings as well as financial savings for users of the amenity landscape water use model. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Science)

A governança da água apresenta-se como caminho e paradigma na implementação de uma gestão descentralizada e participativa capaz de permear, com estes princípios, todas as instâncias e instrumentos de gestão. A outorga de direito de uso da água é um dos instrumentos previstos nas legislações federal e estadual (SP) cuja utilização permite controlar o acesso quantitativo e qualitativo a estes recursos. Concedida em consonância com as normas, critérios e diretrizes previamente estabelecidas, é a outorga que concede o direito e autoriza o uso privativo de bem público de uso comum do povo por particular, isto é, o uso da água. É também por meio da outorga que são disciplinados os usos considerados prioritários, insignificantes e orientada a alocação da água nas Bacias Hidrográficas. Especificamente quanto às diretrizes que orientam sua alocação, destaca-se a função do Plano de Bacia. Elaborado no âmbito dos Comitês de Bacias Hidrográficas, cabe ao Plano de Bacia, também chamado de Plano de Recursos Hídricos, oferecer as bases para a alocação da água, por meio das outorgas de direito, determinando seu parâmetro e comportamento nos diferentes regimes hídricos, incluindo os de agravamento de escassez hídrica. Diante deste contexto, o presente trabalho aprofunda as discussões e busca avaliar as restrições impostas às outorgas na Bacia Hidrográfica dos rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (PCJ) entre 2014 e 2017, seus fundamentos e observância aos princípios da descentralização e da participação. A partir dos elementos que compõe o conceito de governança da água e da contextualização da água no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, o trabalho analisa, com apoio nas normas vigentes, os elementos e características da outorga de direito de uso da água, bem como sua relação com o Plano e com o Comitê de Bacia. Em seguida, analisa-se o Plano vigente durante o período escolhido em três diferentes dimensões: quanto à composição do Comitê e das Câmaras Técnicas atuantes em sua elaboração, quanto ao processo de contratação, elaboração e aprovação e quanto ao seu conteúdo, especialmente na constatação de diretrizes aplicáveis às restrições incidentes sobre as outorgas em períodos de agravamento da escassez. São também analisadas as atuações da Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) e do Departamento de Águas e Energia Elétrica do Estado de São Paulo (DAEE) e as restrições estabelecidas, por meio de atos normativos, e que incidiram sobre outorgas entre os anos de 2014 e 2017. Constata-se, ao fim, o pequeno envolvimento do Comitê na elaboração do Plano de Bacia vigente à época, a lacuna de seu conteúdo no tratamento de situações críticas e emergenciais e a centralização da concepção das medidas de restrição das outorgas de direitos de uso na bacia dos rios PCJ, restrições estas que se mostram incompatíveis com as diretrizes do quadro normativo vigente. / Water governance presents itself as a path and paradigm in the implementation of a decentralized and participative management that is capable to permeate, with these principles, all the instances and instruments. The water grant is one of the instruments provided by the federal and state (SP) laws, which allows to control quantitative and qualitatively the access to these resources. When granted in accordance to the regulatory standards, criteria and guidelines previously established, the water grant guarantees the right and authorizes the private use of a commonweal by particular, that is, the use of water. It is also through the water grant that uses are disciplined according to its priority, meaningless and the water allocation is oriented in the River Basins. Specifically regarding the guidelines that lead its allocation, the function of the Basin Plan is highlighted. Being repared in the scope of the River Basins Committees, it is the responsibility of the Basin Plan, also called as Water Resources Plan, to provide the basis for the water allocation, by the water grant, defining its parameters and behavior in the different water polities, including those of water shortage aggravation. In the view of this context, the current research deepens the discussions and seeks to evaluate the restrictions imposed to the water grant on Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí (PCJ) the River Basin between 2014 and 2017, its foundations and compliance with the principles of decentralization and establishment. Based on the elements that make up the concept of water governance and the contextualization of water in the Brazilian legal system, the research analyzes, with the support of current regulatory standards, the elements and characteristics of water grant, as well as its relation with the Plan and Basin Committee. Afterwards, the current Plan is analyzed according to the selected period in three different dimensions: in regards of composition of the Committee and the Technical Chambers involved in its elaboration, contracting process, elaboration and approval and its content, especially in the verification of the applicable guidelines to restrictions on concessions of water grant in times of shortages aggravation. It is also analyzed the actions taken by the National Water Agency (ANA) and the Department of Water and Electric Energy of the State of São Paulo (DAEE) and the restrictions established, through normative acts, and that affects the water grants between 2014 and 2017. Finally, it is possible to verify the little involvement of the Committee in the Basin Plan elaboration in force at the time, lacks of its content in the treatment of critical and emergency situations, and the centralization in the conception of the restricting measures of the water grant in the PCJ river basins, restrictions that are shown incompatible with the guidelines of the current regulatory framework.

A adubação equilibrada com nitrogênio e enxofre pode alterar a nutrição e produção das gramíneas forrageiras. Mediante as aplicações de combinações de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos: a) nas frações desses nutrientes no solo e correlacionar com as quantidades acumuladas desses nutrientes pela Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu; b) nas variáveis de crescimento, concentração total e formas inorgânicas de nitrogênio e enxofre e relação N:S nas raízes da gramínea forrageira; c) no consumo e eficiência do uso da água pela gramínea; d) nas variáveis estruturais, produção de massa seca e na quantidade acumulada desses nutrientes no capim-marandu e, e) na diagnose nutricional de nitrogênio e enxofre no capim, buscando determinar os níveis críticos para esses nutrientes. Dois experimentos simultâneos foram conduzidos em casa de vegetação, um com e outro sem o capim-marandu, no período de setembro a dezembro de 2008, utilizando um solo classificado como Neossolo Quartzarênico. Cinco doses de nitrogênio (0; 100; 200; 300 e 400 mg dm-3) foram combinadas com cinco doses de enxofre (0; 10; 20; 30 e 40 mg dm-3) em um fatorial 52 fracionado, com quatro repetições. No experimento sem plantas verificou-se o efeito da adubação com doses de nitrogênio e enxofre nas frações desses nutrientes no solo. A adubação com nitrogênio aumentou as frações inorgânicas de nitrato e amônio, nitrogênio total hidrolisável, nitrogênio amoniacal hidrolisável, aminoaçúcar e nitrogênio não identificado. A aplicação de doses de enxofre incrementou enxofre-éster e o enxofre residual do solo. No experimento com plantas observou-se que o fornecimento de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre aumentou a massa seca de raízes, as concentrações de enxofre, nitrato e sulfato nas raízes, enquanto o comprimento e a superfície radicular, concentrações de nitrogênio e de amônio e relação N:S no sistema radicular responderam significativamente às doses de nitrogênio. Ocorreu aumento no consumo e na eficiência do uso da água pelo capim com adubação combinada de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre. Número de folhas, número de perfilhos, área foliar, massa seca da parte aérea e quantidade acumulada de nutrientes pela parte aérea do capim responderam significativamente à adubação nitrogenada no primeiro corte das plantas, mas houve a necessidade de adicionar o enxofre na adubação com nitrogênio para maximizar essas variáveis nos dois crescimentos seguintes do capim. Apenas a adubação com nitrogênio foi significativa no primeiro período de crescimento, enquanto as combinações de doses de nitrogênio com doses de enxofre foram significativas no segundo e terceiro períodos de crescimento para o valor SPAD, concentrações de nitrogênio e enxofre e relação N:S nas folhas diagnósticas do capim. Correlações significativas entre a concentração de nitrogênio nas folhas diagnósticas e o valor SPAD foram observadas para os três períodos de crescimento do capim. A falta de resposta ao enxofre no primeiro período de crescimento da gramínea mostrou a baixa demanda por esse nutriente nessa fase. Os benefícios da adubação nitrogenada foram maximizados pelo suprimento conjunto com enxofre nos dois períodos subseqüentes de crescimento do capim-marandu. / Nitrogen and sulphur balanced fertilization may change mineral nutrition and yield of forage grasses. Based on the supply of combinations of nitrogen and sulphur rates, the objectives were to evaluate the effects: a) in these nutrient fractions in the soil and to correlate this fractions with nitrogen and sulphur content in Brachiaria brizantha; b) the combination of nitrogen rates with sulphur rates on the root growth characteristics, in nitrogen and sulphur, total concentration and inorganic forms and N:S ratio in roots of the forage grass; c) on water consumption and efficient use by Marandu palisadegrass; d) on structural characteristics, aboveground forage yield and nutrient content in the grass and e) on nutritional diagnosis of these nutrients in the forage, trying to obtain the critical levels of these nutrients. Two experiments were carried out at the same time under greenhouse conditions, one with and one without the Marandu palisadegrass from September to December 2008, and the soil was an Entisol. Five nitrogen rates (0; 100; 200; 300 and 400 mg dm-3) were combined with five sulphur rates (0; 10; 20; 30 and 40 mg dm-3) in fractionated 52 factorial, with four replications. In the experiment without plants, the nitrogen and sulphur fertilization changed these nutrients fractions in the soil. Nitrogen fertilization increased inorganic fractions of nitrate and ammonium, hydrolyzable total nitrogen, hydrolyzable ammonium, amino sugars and unidentified nitrogen. Application of sulphur rates increased estersulphur and residual sulphur in the soil. In the experiment with plants, supply of both nitrogen and sulphur increased root dry matter production, total sulphur, nitrate and sulphate-sulphur concentrations, while for total root length and root surface area, total nitrogen and ammonium concentrations and N:S only ratio nitrogen rates had significant responses. Nitrogen and sulphur rates increased the water consumption and efficiency of use by grass. Numbers of leaves, number of tillers, leaf area, shoot dry masss and nitrogen content in the shoots of forage grass showed significant responses to nitrogen fertilization in the first growth period but it was necessary to add sulphur in the fertilization to maximize these variables for following two growth period of the grass. Only nitrogen fertilization was significant in the first growth period, while the combinations of nitrogen and sulphur rates were significant for the SPAD value, concentrations of nitrogen and sulphur and N:S ratio in diagnostic leaves of the grass. Significant correlation was observed for nitrogen concentration in diagnostic leaves and SPAD value the three growth periods. Sulphur demand by Marandu palissadegrass was low in the first growth period, but the nitrogen fertilization benefits were maximized by adding sulphur in the fertilization of this grass.