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The Effect of Liming and Leaching on the Sulfur-Supplying Capacity of Soils¹

ABSTRACT

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of liming and subsequent percolation on SO^2-₄ leaching from two soils differing substantially in their native soil S status. Two crops of corn (Zea mays L.) were then grown on the limed and leached soils with gypsum added in order to assess S crop response. With no liming, SO^2-₄ leaching losses in both soils were approximately 50% of those obtained at the highest liming rates (2.0–2.5 g/kg); however, the effect varied depending on the soil S status. In the soil with the higher level of adsorbed SO^2-₄ (35 µg/g of S), large losses were observed, particularly during the initial leaching period. In contrast, with the soil with the lower level of adsorbed SO^2-₄ (9 µg/g of S), the leaching losses were more gradual, and SO^2-₄ elution followed a chromatographic pattern commonly observed with nonsorbing ions. Possible explanations for these patterns are presented. Crop production and S uptake, particularly by the second crop, reflected the significant effects of liming and leaching on the available S status of the soils. The results indicate that acid soils that are limed and subsequently leached may rapidly become S deficient and that the relative amounts of adsorbed SO^2-₄ and mineralizable S are important factors in determining the magnitude of the liming effect.

¹ Contribution from the Agro-Economic Division, International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), P.O. Box 2040, Muscle Shoals, AL 35660.

² Soil Microbiologist, Research Associate, and Research Assistant, respectively.

Received for publication May 25, 1982. Accepted for publication January 10, 1983.