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Effect of Sulfur Source on Sulfur Oxidation
Author(s) -
Lindemann W. C.,
Aburto J. J.,
Haffner W. M.,
Bono A. A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500010015x
Subject(s) - sulfur , soil water , loam , chemistry , amendment , environmental chemistry , dissolution , calcareous , nutrient , mineralogy , botany , geology , soil science , organic chemistry , biology , political science , law
The rate of elemental sulfur (S o ) oxidation in soils may be affected by the source of S o . This study was conducted to determine the effect of S o source on S o oxidation. Liquid culture studies with Thiobacillus thiooxidans and T. thioparus , laboratory incubations with a Holloman soil (loamy, gypsic, thermic, shallow Typic Torriorthent) and a Belen soil (clayey over loamy, montmorillonitic [calcareous], thermic Typic Torrifluvent), and a field study on the Belen soil were conducted. Periodic measurements included pH as a measure of S o oxidation to H 2 SO 4 , electrical conductivity (EC) as a measure of dissolution of CaCO 3 from H 2 SO 4 production, and available Fe, Zn, P, and SO 4 at the end of soil experiments as a measure of S o ‐oxidation effects on nutrient availability. The S o sources included pure S o (Sp), Wettable S (Sw), flowable S o (Sf), and Disper‐Sul S o (Sd). In liquid culture, Sw, Sf, and Sd inhibited or slowed S o oxidation, compared with Sp, suggesting an ingredient of the commercial S o sources was responsible for oxidation inhibition. Oxidation of Sw, Sf, and Sd were similar to Sp oxidation in laboratory soil incubations and in the field. Results indicate that the S o source is not the cause of slow S o oxidation in some New Mexico soils. Chemoautotrophic S o oxidizers were present in unamended soils and their numbers increased in S o ‐amended soils. Although S o amendment (25 g S o kg −1 ) in the field decreased pH approximately 0.5 unit and increased SO 4 tenfold, S o amendment did not increase available Fe, Zn, or P. The slow rate of S o oxidation in some New Mexico soils and failure of S o amendment to increase nutrient levels are attributed to the buffering capacity of the calcareous soils.