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), Vol. 55:1; ISSN 0361-5995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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