Cropping and sulfur fertilization influence on sulfur transformations in soil

Journal Article · · Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500010020x· OSTI ID:6032555

Castellano, S D; Dick, R P ^[1]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States)

A 2 year field study was conducted to determine the effects of two S fertilizers (CaSO{sub 4} {center dot} 2H{sub 2}O (CS) or elemental S (ES)) at two fertilization rates (0 or 50 kg S ha{sup {minus}1} year{sup {minus}1}) on the temporal distribution of soil S fractions (inorganic SO{sub 4}, 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 affected by S-fertilizer treatment. During the rainy winter season,k SO{sub 4} levels ranged from 7 to 13 mg kg{sup {minus}1} in CS plots, compared with 2 to 7 mg kg{sup {minus}1} in control plots. In the months from March to May, biomass S increased and SO{sub 4} levels decreased (<6 mg SO{sub 4}-S kg{sup {minus}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 SO{sub 4} in the 60- to 90-cm depth being significantly affected by cropping and S fertilization. The limitations of using extractable SO{sub 4} as a soil test were shown by wide variations in SO{sub 4} over time (2-14 mg SO{sub 4} hg{sup {minus}1} soil) in control plots, even though there was a seed yield response to S.

• OSTI ID: 6032555
• Journal Information: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Science Society of America Journal; (United States) Vol. 55:1; ISSN SSSJD; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540220* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
BRASSICA
CHEMISTRY
CROPS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
FERTILIZERS
FIELD TESTS
FOOD
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR CYCLE
TESTING
VEGETABLES