Organic and inorganic sulfur constituents of a forest soil and their relationship to microbial activity

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600040036x· OSTI ID:5822128

David, M B; Mitchell, M J; Nakas, J P

Sulfur (S) constituents, microbial biomass, and sulfohydrolase activity were determined for each soil horizon at both hardwood and conifer sites in a Becket soil (Adirondack Mountains, New York). Drying of soil before analysis altered the S constituents. There was a threefold increase (p<0.05) in sulfate in the organic horizons. Total S was greatest in the O horizons with 2,010 and 1,690 ..mu..g S/g in conifer and hardwood solums, respectively. Mineral soil had a maximum S concentration in the B21h horizon. Sulfate concentrations were a small proportion (<15%) of total S in B horizons. Organic S was dominant (93% of total S) in all horizons. Carbon-bonded S and ester sulfate were 74 and 18% of total S, respectively. Microbial biomass was greatest in the O1 horizon of both hardwood and conifer solums (59 and 70 mg biomass C per 100 g/sup -1/ dry mass, respectively). The B21h horizon contained the greatest biomass in the mineral soil. Sulfohydrolase activity exhibited the same distribution. Total S, carbon-bonded S, and ester sulfate were all positively correlated (p<0.05) to percent organic matter in the soil horizons. Correlations between microbial biomass and sulfohydrolase activity with organic S indicate the potential for microbial S transformations. Sulfate formation by mineralization may be more important than exogenous inputs. This has major implications for assessing the impact of atmospheric S deposition on soils.

• Research Organization: S.U.NY, Syracuse, NY
• OSTI ID: 5822128
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 46:4; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACIDIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
ELEMENTS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
FEDERAL REGION II
FORESTS
HYDROLASES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROORGANISMS
MOUNTAINS
NEW YORK
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR CYCLE
TREES
USA