Supplementation of Soil with Waste Sulfur and Its Effect on Availability of Mn and Zn

Abstract

Sulfur is a necessary nutrient for the proper functioning of living organisms, both plants and animals. However, following pro-environmental activities carried out for many years, there is now a deficit of this element in the soils of many countries. The aim of this model study was to determine the effect of the application of waste elemental sulfur and its mixtures with organic materials (cattle manure, digestate and biochar) on the availability of manganese and zinc in soils. In addition to the standard analysis of variance (ANOVA), the authors propose various methods of advanced statistical analysis, e.g., simplified linear or polynomial regression model development, multiple regression analysis, heatmap statistics and principal component analysis (PCA). The presented findings indicate significant relationships between the soil pH value, S-SO4, Zn and Mn contents, dehydrogenase activity, and experimental duration. The results of regression analysis revealed that the applied materials had a more significant influence on the zinc content than on the manganese content during the incubation period.

Effect of Adding Zeolite and Agricultural Sulfur on The Availability of Phosphorus From Rock Phosphate and Some Chemical Properties and Growth of Maize in Calcareous Soil

“…Increasing the decomposition of RP by acidic root secretions can increase the rate of dissolution of RP by reducing the degree of soil reaction, and microorganisms in the soil and the root zone also play an important role in the dissolution of RP through the formation of organic and inorganic acids. This is consistent with [22], [35] .…”

“…It increased significantly in the treatments S 0 RP 1 , S 1 RP 0 , and S 1 RP 1 , as the values reached 335.50, 638.50, and 889.00 mg P.plant -1 , respectively, compared to the control treatment S 0 RP 0 , which amounted to 243.00 mg P.plant -1 , with an increase of 38.06%, 162.75%, and 265.84% respectively. This is attributed to the role of sulfur in increasing the decomposition of RP, so that the phosphorus release increases in the soil and is absorbed by the plant, this result is consistent with [22], [35] . As for the effect of triple interaction in the concentration of absorbed phosphorus in the plant, the results of the statistical analysis showed a significant effect of RP, agricultural sulfur, and zeolite on the concentration of absorbed phosphorus in the plant at the stage before flowering, as the values reached 186.00, 324.00, 366.20, 454.40, 599.10, 672.50 and 916.10 mg P.plant -1 for the treatments Z 0 S 0 RP 1 , Z 1 S 0 RP 0 , Z 1 S 0 RP 1 , Z 0 S 1 RP 0 , Z 1 S 1 RP 0 , Z 0 S1RP 1, and Z 1 S 1 RP 1 , respectively, compared to the control treatment Z 0 S 0 RP 0 , which amounted to 104.60 mg P.plant -1 , with an increase of 77.82%, 209.75%, 250.09%, and 334%.…”

“…The available phosphorus increased significantly in the treatments S 0 RP 1 , S 1 RP 0 and S 1 RP 1 , reaching 4.17, 5.83 and 9.18 mg.kg -1 , compared to the control treatment S 0 RP0, which amounted to 3.01. mg.kg -1 , with an increase rate of 38.53%, 93.68%, and 204.98%, respectively. This is due to the role of sulfur in reducing the degree of soil reaction to the extent that it can increase the decomposition of RP and some phosphorus compounds and other insoluble elements in the soil, and then supplying the plant with phosphorus and other elements, This is consistent with [22], [35] .…”