PJB-2021-770
Optimizing the Rate of Elemental Sulfur to Manage pH of Alkaline Soils for Improved Crop Production
Shahzad Saleem
Abstract
Soils of arid and semi-arid regions like Pakistan are alkaline in nature due to their parent material, and high soil pH reduces the availability of macro and micro-nutrients (P, K, Zn, Fe and Cu) to plants and reduction in crop growth and yield is occurred. Hence, the reduction in soil pH is inevitable to increase the plant nutrient availability and crop yield. Elemental sulfur (ES) is cheapest and effective soil amendment to reduce the soil pH of alkaline soils and need to be oxidized into SO4 by sulphur oxidizing bacteria (SOB), hence, the application of SOB along with ES can be a sustainable, environment friendly and economic approach for the reduction of soil pH. A pot trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of SOB along with elemental sulphur to decrease the soil pH. SOB was isolated and top three efficient strains was selected on the basis of pH reduction test. SOB along with two levels of elemental sulphur (1000, 2000 kg/ ha) was applied to assess their ability to reduce soil pH and improve nutrient availability in alkaline soil conditions. The experiment was laid out according to Complete Randomized Design (CRD) and each treatment was repeated thrice. Fodder maize was harvested after 45 days of sowing and data regarding plant height, plant biomass, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight and chlorophyll contents (SPAD) was recorded. Soil samples was collected from each pot at fortnight intervals and data regarding soil pH, EC, soil and plant nutrient contents (P, K and SO4) was determined and analyzed statistically by using STATISTIX 8.1 software. It was observed that intensity of soil pH reduction by SOB strain along with different levels of elemental sulfur is specific and varies within the treatments. Each treatment showed different potential to reduce the soil pH. However, T8 (SOB-3 + Elemental Sulfur @ 2000 kg/ ha) was most effective treatment in reducing the soil pH and reduced soil pH from 8.2 to 7.2. Maximum nutrient concentration of S (0.36%) and K (2.3%) in maize was recorded with application of T8 (SOB-3 + Elemental Sulfur @ 2000 kg/ ha), while maximum plant P content (0.76%) was recorded by the application of T5 (SOB-2 + Elemental Sulfur @ 1000 kg/ ha). However, T8 (SOB-3 + Elemental Sulfur @ 2000 kg/ ha) was most effective treatment for increasing plant fresh weight (61%) and dry weight (56%) as compared to control. While maximum plant height (43%) and cholophyll content (36%) increased was recorded as compared to control by the application of T4 (SOB-1 + Elemental Sulfur @ 2000 kg/ ha). It was also found that the application of all the treatments can also slightly increase the soil EC levels and the maximum increase in soil EC (3.41 dS/m from 3.36 dS/m) was observed by the application of T8 (SOB-3 + Elemental Sulfur @ 2000 kg/ ha). Keywords: Sulfur; Sulfur Oxidizing Bacteria; Nutrient availability, Soil pH
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