Available sulfur release and sulfur uptake as influenced by animal manures and wood ash under maize-grown soils

Sulfur (S) availability and release are important parameters in managing soil S status for optimum crop performance. Experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of cattle manure (CM), CM and wood ash (CM + WA), poultry manure (PM), PM + WA, and WA on S release and uptake in maize. The incubation and greenhouse experiments were arranged in a completely randomized design. The field experiment was in a randomized complete block design. Soils were collected from different agro-ecological zones. Animal manure and WA were applied at 45 kg S ha −1 and 5 t ha −1 , respectively. Samples were analyzed for S release at 4-week interval, and S uptake and dry matter weights were determined after harvest. Data were subjected to regression ( R 2 ) analysis and ANOVA at p ≤ 0.05. Results revealed amendments significantly increased soil S over the control in order of PM > CM > PM + WA > CM + WA > WA and S release was maximum at 4th week by 27.8, 20.7, and 91.1% in incubation, greenhouse, and under field conditions, respectively. PM recorded the most consistent S release in incubation and greenhouse, and the magnitude of S release on the field was higher in CM + WA by 108%. The R 2 between S release and time among treatments ranged from 0.5576 to 0.9999. S uptake in shoot and grain was 60 and 90% higher in PM- and PM + WA-amended plots, respectively, than the control. The study concluded that the application of manure at 45 kg S ha −1 with or without wood ash improved the release rate of S above the critical limit for optimum maize performance.