Determination of the sulphur status of tomato plants grown in the greenhouses of the Kumluca and Finike regions and the effects of elemental sulphur and organic manure on tomato and brean plants

ABSTRACT DETERMINATION OF THE SULPHUR STATUS OF TOMATO PLANTS GROWN IN THE GREENHOUSES OF THE KUMLUCA AND FİNİKE REGIONS AND THE EFFECTS OF ELEMENTAL SULPHUR AND ORGANIC MANURE ON TOMATO AND BEAN PLANTS Şule ORMAN Ph.D. in Soil Science Adviser: Prof. Dr. Mustafa KAPLAN September 2004, 184 pages This study is consisted of two different stages. In the first stage, sulphur status of soils and tomato plants grown as single crop in greenhouses in Kumluca and Finike regions were determined. For this purpose, 20 tomato greenhouses in each region were used as the source of soil samples from 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths prior to planting (1st sample period) and in the middle of the growing season (2nd sample period). When the soil samples in 2nd period were taken, plant samples were also collected. While the average S04"2-S contents of soil samples in the 1st and 2nd periods were determined to have similar values in Kumluca region; these values for the 2nd period were higher than the 1st period in Finike region in both 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths. Considerable relationships were found between the values of 2nd period soil samples and some other soil properties. Whilst, negative correlations were observed between S04"2-S contents of soils and pH and sand contents, positive correlations were observed between EC values, clay contents, N, K and Na contents. Sulphur status of soils and plants were determined to be sufficient concentrations in both Kumluca and Finike regions. In the second stage of the research, pot experiments were carried out according to the completely randomized design factorial with 4 replicates. Elemental sulphur (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400 mg/kg) and farmyard manure (0, 3 tonnes/da) were applied to low sulphur content and sandy loam soil. Tomato and bean were grown as the experimental plants. After the experimental set up, the soil samples were taken in 3 different periods and chancing of pH and EC were examined. 3 weeks after applications, experimental plants were planted. After 8 weeks the plants were harvested and analysed. According to results of the pot experiments, soil pH was reduced and soil EC value was increased by the sulphur and farmyard manure applications. These effects were particularly determined in the 2" soil sample period (after 3 weeks the application materials were mixed with the soil) and at the highest sulphur level. In the tomato plant, the effects of the application materials were not significant on N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu contents and dry matter yield. S and total chlorophyll contents were increased, Fe, Zn, Mn contents were decreased by the sulphur applications in the tomato plant. However, Fe, Zn and total chlorophyll contents were reduced, Mn content was not effected in the plant by the farmyard manure applications. İn the bean plant, the effects of application materials were not significant on Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and total chlorophyll contents. While the N and Ca contents in the plant were reduced by the sulphur applications, S and dry matter yield were increased. P content of plant was increased by the sulphur with farmyard manure applications, K content was increased by the farmyard manure applications. KEY WORDS: Sulphur nutrition, sulphate, organic manure, tomato, bean, sulphur analyses, greenhouses, pot experiment COMMTTEE: Prof. Dr. Mustafa KAPLAN Prof. Dr. Sait GEZGİN Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bülent TOPCUO?LU Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naci ONUS Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeki ALAGÖZ