EFFECT OF SILICON COMPOUNDS ON SULPHUR OXIDATION IN AGRICULTURAL LOAM SOIL

Abstract

Sulphur in the form of sulphate is an essential nutrient for plants and microbes. The oxidation of reduced sulphur in soil is usually regarded as a microbial process, although some non-biological oxidation of the element has been demonstrated in sterile soils. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of silicon compounds on sulphur oxidation, in agricultural loam soil which was amended with silicic acid, sodium and potassium silicates, incubated at 25°C under aerobic conditions. Lithium chloride (LiCI?) 0.1 and 0.5 M was used as extructing agent. Solutions of the soil were analysed for sulphate-S on 7, 14, 21 and 28th day of incubation, using turbidimetric analysis method. Present study, carried out in Sheffield, UK, shows that silicon compounds stimulate the sulphur oxidation to a significant level in agricultural loam soil.