Effects of sulfur contents on growth and quality of garlic sprout

Using Hoagland solution, taking the white garlic as the testing cultivar, the experiment was conducted to study the effects of sulfur on the growth and development, quality and mineral elements of garlic sprouts. The results show that the leaf numbers, length and area are significantly increased with the increments of sulfur content in the solution culture. When the sulfur content is 1.50 mmol/L, the allicin content in garlic leaves is the highest, which is increased by 97.96% compared to the control; while the allicin content in stem diameters is the highest when the sulfur content is 2.25 mmol/L. When the sulfur content is 2.25 mmol/L, the soluble sugar and Vc contents in leaves and stem diameters of garlic sprout are increased by 66.59% and 35.14%, 14.96% and 24.57%, respectively. There are significantly correlations between total nitrogen and total sulfur contents in garlic plants (leaves and stems), and the sulfur contents in the nutrient solution. The total phosphorus and total potassium contents in garlic plants are the highest, when the sulfur content is 2.25 mmol/L. In conclusion, the sulfur fertilization could promote the growth of garlic sprouts, improve the quality of garlic sprouts and absorptions of mineral elements, and the best sulfur content is about 2.25 mmol/L.