Biological and Chemical Evaluation of the Readily Available Sulfur Status of Mississippi Soils

Authors:
  • JSJ. O. Sanford
    J. O. Sanford
  • JLJ. D. Lancaster
    J. D. Lancaster
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A quick‐cropping technique was adapted to study the immediately available S in soils. Forty Mississippi soils were cropped using this technique. Sulfur uptake by the crop was compared with the sulfate‐S content of the soils. Correlation of the two variables proved highly significant (r = 0.87). Reduction in soluble sulfate content of soils during the short cropping period agreed rather closely with S absorbed by the crop. A study of the distribution and availability of sulfate in the profile of soils of the Hill area of Mississippi showed that, in general, sulfate‐S in the subsoil of a particular profile tended to exceed that in the corresponding surface soil. Sulfate‐S in subsoils was almost as available as that in surface soils under the conditions of the experiment. Ratios of S uptake by plants to sulfate‐S in soils were 1:1.5 for surface soils and 1:1.7 for subsoils.