Sulfur nutrition of temperate pasture species. I. Effects of nitrogen supply on the external and internal sulfur requirements of subterranean clover and ryegrass

The effects of nitrogen supply on the external and internal sulfur requirements of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Trikkala) and ryegrass (Lolium rigidum cv. Wimmera) were examined in a glasshouse experiment. Plants were grown for 28 and 42 days on a sulfur-deficient soil supplied with varying rates of sulfur. Nitrogen application increased the external requirement for sulfur of ryegrass by greatly stimulating growth and, to a lesser extent, sulfur content. Hence nitrogen application decreased sulfur concentrations in ryegrass. In subterranean clover there was relatively little effect of nitrogen application on the external requirement for sulfur because nitrogen did not greatly increase the sulfur content. Nitrogen application did not affect the external requirement for sulfur by changing the distribution of sulfur either between root and shoot or within shoots. The internal sulfur requirements, based either on sulfur concentrations or nitrogen to sulfur ratios, in the young leaves of both species were unaffected by nitrogen supply.