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N Deprivation in Maize During Grain‐Filling. II. Remobilization of 15 N and 35 S and the Relationship between N and S Accumulation 1
Author(s) -
Friedrich J. W.,
Schrader L. E.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1979.00021962007100030021x
Subject(s) - zea mays , nitrogen , chemistry , poaceae , agronomy , nitrate , zoology , horticulture , biology , organic chemistry
The role of N and S remobilization in ear development of maize ( Zea mays L.) has not been adequately assessed. The objective of this greenhouse experiment was to determine the effect of N deprivation during grain‐filling on N and S remobilization and the relationship between N and S accumulation. Maize plants were grown in nutrient solution containing 15 N‐nitrate and 35 S‐sulfate. After silking, the plants were placed in unlabelled solutions, with or without nitrate‐N. The amount of labelled and unlabelled N and S in several plant fractions was determined at silking and 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after silking. The remobilization of labelled N and S was not markedly affected by N deprivation. Unlabelled N (when supplied) and unlabelled S accumulated in all plant fractions, but did not affect the concentration of N or S in the ear. Nitrogen deprivation resulted in only a 19% decrease in ear N content. Labelled N constituted 100% of the total ear N in plants deprived of N as compared to 84% for control plants. Labelled S comprised 73% of the total ear S in N‐derived plants as compared to 56% in plants supplied with N. The ratio of reduced N to reduced S (N R /S R ) in the ear was lower in N‐deprived plants. The N R /S R , ratio in the leaves was not affected by N deprivation, and declined during grain‐filling. Apparently, the remobilization of N and S contributes more to ear development than does the absorption of N and S after silking.