Atmospheric sulfur as related to acid precipitation and soil fertility

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1982.03615995004600050018x· OSTI ID:5822775

Suarez, E L; Jones, U S

Conductivity, pH, and ionic components were determined in the rainfall and particulate matter at Clemson, S.C., Experiment, Ga., and Franklin, N.C., using a wet/dry collector. Sulfur in the air was collected at Clemson on a 30-d interval in a standard lead peroxide sampler. Soil samples were taken from 15 locations in South Carolina and analyzed for sulfur. It was observed that the average loading concentration of anions in rainwater increased during the spring-summer months and decreased during the fall-winter months. Sulfuric and nitric acids were found to be the major components of acid rainfall. Rainfall and air deposition contributed approximately 10.7 and 1.8 kg/ha of sulfur per year, respectively, at Clemson. Atmospheric deposition from the particulate matter contributed an estimated 3.0 kg/ha of sulfur during the year. Increases in corn grain and silage yields were obtained with the application of 18 kg/ha of sulfur at Darlington, S.C. A relationship between applied sulfur and crop response for the other crops considered could not be established. A need for reevaluating the findings and recommendations for sulfur fertilizers was apparent because of the contribution of atmospheric-deposited sulfur to the soil and plant sulfur supply.

• Research Organization: Clemson Univ., SC
• OSTI ID: 5822775
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 46:5; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560303 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID RAIN
AIR QUALITY
ANIONS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMISTRY
CROPS
DEPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IV
FERTILITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
IONS
NITRIC ACID
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PH VALUE
PRECIPITATION SCAVENGING
PRODUCTIVITY
RAIN
SAMPLING
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SOUTH CAROLINA
SULFUR
USA
VARIATIONS