Sulfur (S) deficiencies have become an increasing problem in the United States. A field experiment, in a latin square design, was conducted to investigate effects of S fertilization as 0 and 67 kg/ha as a single or split application on corn (Zea mays L.) forage yield and chemical composition. Sulfur fertilization by either method increased yield of whole plant and grain 7% and increased number of plants with two ears. Total S and sulfate-S concentration in whole corn plants, leaf, stem, and grain were increased with S fertilization. Corn forages were ensiled at harddent stage (35% dry matter). Sulfur fertilized corn silages (N/ S=42 and 43) and non-S fertilized silage (N/ S=62) supplemented at two rates with sodium sulfate (N/ S=l2 and 45) were fed to sheep in metabolism and palatability trials. Both experiments were conducted as a randomized block design with six replications per treatment. All silages were supplemented with urea (6.7 g/ d). Digestibility of dry matter and cell wall components and apparent absorption of Sand N were increased with S fertilization and S supplementation. Nitrogen retention was increased 14% by S supplementation (N/S=l2) and 31% by S fertilization. Sheep fed N/ S=12 silage had lower blood hematocrit and hemoglobin levels then those fed S fertilized or N/ S=45 silages. Blood urea-N levels were higher in sheep fed S fertilized silages. Increasing dietary S by fertilization or supplementation had no measurable effect on dry matter intake. / M.S.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/104299 |
| Date | January 1985 |
| Creators | Buttrey, Sherri A. |
| Contributors | Agronomy |
| Publisher | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Text |
| Format | x, 93 leaves, application/pdf, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | OCLC# 13805585 |
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