Effect of some Cultural Treatments, Elemental Sulfur Application and N-fertilization Levels on the Productivity of Maize and Fertility of Calcareous Sandy Soil.

The aim of the present investigation was to improve the productivity of calcareous sandy soil of Arab El-Awammer Experimental Station, Assiut governorate, Egypt. For this purpose a field experiment under minimum soil tillage conditions in summer season of 2010 was conducted in split split plot design with three replicates to detect the production of maize and soil fertility as influenced by previous and immediately some soil cultural treatments in main plot, levels of powder elemental S (zero and 300 kg S/fed) in the sub plots and mineral nitrogen fertilization levels (120 and 180 kg N/fed) in the sub sub plots. The four soil cultural treatments in main plots were two different crop sequences with crop residues completely removed (-CR) or with crop residues incorporated in soil surface layer 0-25 cm (+CR). The different two crop sequences (depend on it's inclusions from legume crop) were:- Year 2009 2010 legume crop% Sequence 1 = wheat - maize - wheat - maize (0%) Sequence 2 = wheat - maize - clover - maize (25%) The obtained results from the maize crop cultivated in season four of this study show that, crop residues applied in legume cereal cropping systems (25% legume crops) resulted in higher maize growth, yields, yields components, NP uptake by maize plants and improved soil fertility (soil organic matter content, soil total N, soil available P and soil pH). Powdered elemental S applied seasonally at a level of 300 kg S/fed and N-fertilizer at the high levels (180 kg N/fed) were also efficient in improving maize productivity and improving fertility status of calcareous sandy soil.The study recommends that seasonally application of crop residues in legume cereal cropping systems with seasonally application of powdered elemental S at a level of 300 kg S/fed and N-fertilizer at the height levels (180 kg N/fed) is the best treatment for producing high production of maize crop and improving fertility status of calcareous sandy soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]