Differences in soil sulfur fractions due to limitation of atmospheric deposition

Abstract

The aim of this work was to estimate the changes in contents of different sulfur (S) fractions in soils under conditions of lowering inputs of S from emissions together with the influence of application of manure and mineral fertilizers. Soil samples from long-term field experiments were used for this purpose. The samples were taken from 10 sites from precise long-term field experiments with different soil-climatic conditions in the Czech republic. The samples were analyzed using the following fractionation: (i) water soluble S (H 2 o extracts), (ii) sorbed S (0.032M naH 2 Po 4 extracts) and (iii) S occluded with carbonates (1M HCl extract). Furthermore, the concentration of total S (S tot ) and organic S (S org ) was determined. Soil samples were taken in the years 1981 and 2007. During 26 years a decrease of S tot by about 3-8%, water soluble S by 65-68% and sorbed S by 39-44% were observed in the topsoil of the evaluated soils. Furthermore, a low increase in the content of organic S was observed. The estimated ratio of S org reached 78.7-80.9% from S tot in the year 1981 and 87.7-89.8% in 2007. Farmyard manure (40 t/ha) applied every 4 years did not have a significant influence on S fractions and S tot contents in soils; intensive S fertilizing increased S tot and mobile S forms contents in soils. very close correlations were obtained especially between S tot and water soluble S and organic S.

Influence of the nitrogen-sulfur fertilizing on the content of different sulfur fractions in soil

“…The highest S ocl contents were found at the Uhříněves site, where the values reached 7.5-8.6 mg S/kg and the lowest at Hněvčeves site, where they reached only 3.1-3.7 mg S/kg. Similar results were obtained by Balík et al (2009), who estimated the average values of 7.2 mg S/kg (S w ), 5.2 mg S/kg (S ads ) and 9.9 mg S/kg (S ocl ) on 10 long-term nonfertilized sites in the year 2007.…”

“…It applies to the countries with a recent good sulfur supply as well (Eriksen 2004, Lehmann et al 2008, Skwierawska et al 2008, Balík 2009.…”

Evaluating of soil sulfur forms changes under different fertilizing systems during long-term field experiments

“…Mineral sulfur (S) deficiency is an actual problem in many sites (Eriksen 2005, Lehmann et al 2008, Balík et al 2009, Scherer 2009. The content of mineral sulfur forms in soil rapidly decreased in last 25 years (Balík et al 2009, Scherer 2009).…”

“…The content of mineral sulfur forms in soil rapidly decreased in last 25 years (Balík et al 2009, Scherer 2009). Although sulfur has been known as an essential element for plant growth for over two centuries, intentionally S fertilizing was not realized before 1980's.…”

“…There is a visible decreasing tendency of ∑S content in soil during the experiment, especially in the control treatment. It can be explained by the fact that the sulfur inputs to the soil strongly decreased at the end of 20 th century (Balík et al 2009, Scherer 2009). Figure 2 shows the tendencies in mineral soil sulfur changes at Humpolec site during the experiment.…”