ISSN:
1365-2389
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Classical chemical fractionation of soil sulphur (S) into HI-reducible S and carbon-bonded S does not separate S in soil into fractions that have differing mineralization potentials. Other techniques are needed to separate organic S into more labile and less labile fractions of biological significance, irrespective of their bonding relations. We have sequentially fractionated soil S and carbon (C) into their ionic forms released onto ion-exchange resins and organic S and C extracted in alkali of increasing concentration. We evaluated the technique on pasture and arable soils that had received various fertilizer and cultivation treatments. Total S and C were greater in the soil of the fertilized pasture than in that of the unfertilized pastures. Continuous arable cropping decreased total soil S and C, whereas restoration to pasture caused an accumulation.Resin, 0.1 m NaOH, 1 m NaOH and residual fractions accounted for between 1–13%, 49–69%, 4–16% and 19–38% of total soil S and between 5–6%, 38–48%, 5–7% and 46–53% of total soil C, respectively. Among different S and C fractions, the size of the 0.1 m NaOH and residual fractions changed more with the change in land use and management. The 0.1 m NaOH fraction had a narrower C:S ratio (50–75:1) than did the residual fraction (96–141:1). The significant degree of change in these two fractions, caused by differences in land management, indicates that they may be useful indicators of change in ‘soil quality’.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1351-0754.2003.0552.x
Permalink
