Carbon and Sulfur Concentrations are Negatively Correlated in Seeds of Canola.

Wen, G., Schoenau, J.J., Yang, X.M., Zhang, X.-P., Li, X., and Eneji, E. (2008). "Carbon and Sulfur Concentrations are Negatively Correlated in Seeds of Canola.", Journal of Plant Nutrition, 31(8), pp. 1523-1533. doi : 10.1080/01904160802208725

Abstract

Seeds collected from canola grown under a wide range of soil nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertility conditions were analyzed for their carbon ( C) and S concentrations to investigate the relation between the two, and their interactive reactions to seed yield. The treatments involved applications of three S fertilizers [elemental S (SF); gypsum (CS), calcium sulfate (CaSO₄); and ammonium sulfate (AS), (NH₄)₂SO₄], representing differing S availability, in a S-deficient soil at three rates, and a control treatment (CT) receiving N only. In another soil high in available S, urea [(NH₂)₂CO] applications were made at two sites with four rates at each site. All rates were replicated four times. Despite divergences in yield and seed C and S concentrations, a significant negative linear correlation between seed C and S concentrations was found in each of the experiments (P < 0.05~0.001), where S and N relationships varied. Seed C : S ratios were curve-linearly correlated to the yield and the relationships were described by second order polynomial equations. This C : S ratio explained 52 to 74% of variability in yield. Optimum yields were obtained with C : S ratio around 70~100. Seed C : S ratios outside of this range were often associated with reduced yields.