A greenhouse experiment was carried out during the period October, 1991 to December, 1992, to evaluate the mass flow and diffusion contributions on sulphur transport to corn roots in soil surface samples (0-20 cm) of three acid soils collected in Viçosa, Paracatu and Lassance, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Originally, the soil samples presented 5.0, 1.2 and 1.4 mg dm-3 of available S, respectively, obtained by extraction with a Ca(H2PO4)2 solution containing 500 mg L-1 of P in HOAc 2 mol L-1 solution. A 3 x 5 factorial layout was used with three soils and five sulphur levels (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg dm-3), arranged in randomized complete block design, with four replications. Tensiometers controlled the soil water potencial in each pot and it was mantained at approximately -10 kPa. The mass flow contribution was calculated multiplying sulphur concentration on soil saturation extract by volume of transpired water. The difference between total sulphur absorved and mass flow contribution was assumed to be due to diffusion contribution. Mass flow was the main process of sulphur transport to corn roots. At high sulphur concentration in soil solution, the sulphur quantities supplied by mass flow were higher than those required by plants. Diffusion process contributed to sulphur transport only at low sulphur concentration in soil solution.
sulphur; soil transport; soil solution; Zea mays