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Cropping and Sulfur Fertilization Influence on Sulfur Transformations in Soil

Dep. of Soil Science, 202 Strand Agricultural Hall, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

The dynamics of S cycling in soils are not well understood. A 2-yr field study was conducted to determine the effects of two S fertilizers (CaSO₄·2H₂O [CS] or elemental S [ES]) at two fertilization rates (0 or 50 kg S ha^–1 yr^–1) on the temporal distribution of soil S fractions (inorganic SO₄, ester sulfate, and C-bonded and residual S), arylsulfatase activity, and microbial-biomass C and S in soil. The soil studied (a fine-silty, mixed, mesic Aquultic Argixeroll) was cropped with winter rape, Brassica napus L. var. napus or left uncropped. Sulfate levels (0–15 cm depth) were significantly (P < 0.01) affected by S-fertilizer treatment. During the rainy winter season, SO₄ levels ranged from 7 to 13 mg kg^–1 in CS plots, compared with 2 to 7 mg kg^–1 in control plots. In the months from March to May, biomass S increased and SO₄ levels decreased (<6 mg SO₄-S kg^–1 soil), indicating S immobilization was occurring in the spring. Ester sulfate and residual S varied seasonally, whereas C-bonded S showed minimal seasonal fluctuations. Cropping significantly increased biological activity (arylsulfatase activities and biomass C) over uncropped treatments. Subsoil SO₄ appeared to be both a source (upward movement during high evapotranspiration) and a sink for S in surface soil, with extractable SO₄ in the 60- to 90-cm depth being significantly affected by cropping and S fertilization. The limitations of using extractable SO₄ as a soil test were shown by wide variations in SO₄ over time (2–14 mg SO₄ kg^–1 soil) in control plots, even though there was a seed yield response to S.

Oregon Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal no. 9136.

Received for publication January 31, 1990.

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