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Effect of Sulfur Source on Sulfur Oxidation

Dep. of Agronomy and Horticulture, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM 88003

* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

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 H₂SO₄, electrical conductivity (EC) as a measure of dissolution of CaCO₃ from H₂SO₄ production, and available Fe, Zn, P, and SO₄ 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 SO₄ 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.

New Mexico Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Article no. 1486.

Received for publication August 18, 1989.

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