Abstract Nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deficiencies, individually and in combination, produce gaps between actual and potential yields in maize (Zea mays L.). Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of N and S status and their interaction on yield gap, and nutrient use efficiency (yield per unit of nutrient supply) using frameworks of co-limitation and stoichiometry. Factorial trials were established combining two N (unfertilized, N-fertilized) and two S (unfertilized, S-fertilized) treatments in five site-years. Yield ranged from 6.7 to 15.4 Mg ha−1. In a scale from 0 (no stress) to 1 (maximum stress), N stress varied from 0 to 0.67, and S stress from 0 to 0.66. Yield gap varied from 0 to 10 Mg ha−1, diminished as both N and S stresses reduced, and with higher N-S co-limitation. Both N and S use efficiencies increased with reductions in nutrient stresses and with increases in some of the N-S co-limitation indices. Co-limitation between N and S was maximized with N:S ratio ∼9.6 in shoot biomass and ∼11.2 in grain, indicating the balanced nutrient ratio in each plant organ at maturity. Both co-limitation and stoichiometry frameworks captured the interacting N and S effects on yield and nutrient use efficiency.

中文翻译：

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共同限制和化学计量捕捉氮和硫对玉米产量和养分利用效率的相互作用

摘要 氮 (N) 和硫 (S) 的缺乏，单独或结合在一起，会导致玉米 (Zea mays L.) 的实际产量和潜在产量之间存在差距。我们的目标是使用共同限制和化学计量框架评估 N 和 S 状态及其相互作用对产量差距和养分利用效率（每单位养分供应的产量）的影响。因子试验是在五个地点年中结合两种 N（未受精，N-受精）和两种 S（未受精，S-受精）处理而建立的。产量范围从 6.7 到 15.4 Mg ha-1。在从 0（无应力）到 1（最大应力）的范围内，N 应力从 0 到 0.67，S 应力从 0 到 0.66。屈服间隙从 0 到 10 Mg ha-1 不等，随着 N 和 S 应力的降低以及更高的 NS 共同限制而减小。N 和 S 的使用效率随着营养胁迫的减少和一些 NS 共同限制指数的增加而增加。N 和 S 之间的共同限制最大化，枝条生物量的 N:S 比约为 9.6，籽粒生物量约为 11.2，表明成熟时每个植物器官的养分比例平衡。共同限制和化学计量框架都捕获了氮和硫对产量和养分利用效率的相互作用影响。