Evaluation of sulfur and Thiobacillus application effects on chemical properties of calcareous soils under greenhouse conditions

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Dryland Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Maragheh, Iran

2 Ministry of Agriculture-Jahad, Maragheh, Iran

Abstract

Extended abstract
Background and Objectives: Calcareous soils face numerous limitations, including high pH and reduced nutrient solubility, leading to decreased plant availability of essential nutrients and reduced agricultural productivity. An effective strategy to improve these soil properties is the use of sulfur as an acidifying amendment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different sulfur levels on enhancing soil chemical properties and promoting plant growth in soils with varying calcium carbonate contents.
Materials and Methods: A factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications under greenhouse conditions. Experimental treatments included four calcareous soil types (containing 39%, 34%, 14%, and 8% calcium carbonate) and four elemental sulfur levels (0, 300, 600, and 900 mg kg-1 soil) inoculated with Thiobacillus bacteria (equivalent to 2% of applied sulfur weight). Sixty days after sowing 10 wheat plants (Sardari cultivar) in pots containing 3 kg of soil, plant growth parameters and soil chemical properties were measured in each pot.
Results: The findings revealed that soil type had a significant effect (p≤0.01) on all studied soil properties and plant growth indices. Application of elemental sulfur significantly affected (p≤0.01) calcium carbonate content, pH, EC, and available phosphorus in soil, as well as plant height, shoot dry weight, and root-to-shoot ratio. However, its effect on available potassium was significant at p≤0.05. Increasing sulfur levels reduced calcium carbonate content in all four soil types, though the magnitude of reduction varied among soils. Sulfur application also decreased pH and increased EC in all soils, although the pH reduction in soils 1 and 2 was not statistically significant. Available potassium showed an increasing trend in all soils, but this increase was not significant in soils 1 and 2. Regarding plant growth parameters, both shoot dry weight and plant height increased up to 600 mg kg-1 sulfur application, then decreased at 900 mg kg-1. Regression analysis determined the optimal sulfur application rate for maximum yield in calcareous soils to be between 230-475 mg kg-1 soil (equivalent to 600-1235 kg ha-1).
Conclusion: The response of both soil and plants to sulfur application depends on soil type and the amount of sulfur applied, with optimal sulfur application potentially improving plant growth in calcareous soils. However, higher calcium carbonate content in soil does not necessarily require greater sulfur application. Rather, for all calcareous soils (with varying calcium carbonate percentages), applying sulfur within a specific optimal range can effectively enhance soil properties and plant performance.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. 1.Khavazi, K., Jahandideh mahjan abadi, V. A. & Taghipoor, F. (2018). Effect of sulfur, Thiobacillus bacteria and phosphorus on the yield and nutrient elements uptake of wheat in calcareous soil. Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production, 8(2), 23-41. [In Persian]. https://doi.org/10.22069/ ejsms.2018.13665.1761.

    2.Zhou, Y., Wang, D., Zhu, J., Liu, Q., & Fan, M. X. (2004). The role of sulfur fertilizers in balanced fertilization. In: Proceedings of the 1st Sino-German Workshop on Aspects of Sulfur Nutrition of Plants 23-27 May. p. 171–6.

    3.Karimi, E., & Mosavi, S. B. (2023). Short-term effects of organic manure, sulfur, and sulfo-barvar-1 biofertilizer on some biological properties of a calcareous soil. Water and Soil Science, 33(2), 203-19. https://doi.org/10.22034/ ws.2021.46771.2421. [In Persian]

    4.Stamford, N. P., Figueiredo, M. V. B., da Silva Junior, S., Freitas, A. D. S., Santos, C. E. R. S., & Junior, M. A. L. (2015). Effect of gypsum and sulfur with Acidithiobacillus on soil salinity alleviation and on cowpea biomass and nutrient status as affected by PK rock biofertilizer. Scientia Horticulturae, 192, 287–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.scienta.2015.06.008.

    5.Najafi, S., H. Mirseyed Hosseini, H., & Alaei, E. (2012). Study of the effect of micronutrient enriched sulfur fertilizer application in a calcareous soil.‏ Journal of Water and Soil, 26(1), 95-103. https:// sid.ir/paper/141795/en. [In Persian]

    6.Jaggi, R. C., Aulakh, M. S., & Sharma, R. (2005). Impacts of elemental S applied under various temperature and moisture regimes on pH and available P in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 41(1), 52-8. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s00374-004-0792-9.

    7.Besharti, H., & Malekzadeh, T. (2015). The effect of sulfur and Thiobacillus on growth and nutrient uptake of soybean plants in several calcareous soils with different buffering capacities. Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 29(2), 132-146. https://sid.ir/paper/ 158917/en. [In Persian]

    8.Karimi, F., Bahmanyar, M. A., & Shahabi, M. (2012). Improving the Content of Oil, Protein and Some Yield Components of Canola in two Calcareous Soil, Consequence the Sulfur and Cattle Manure Application. Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 22(3), 71-85 [In Persian]

    9.Dane, J. H., & Topp, C. G. (Eds.). (2020). Methods of soil analysis, Part 4: Physical methods. John Wiley & Sons.‏ 

    1. Sparks, D. L., Page, A. L., Helmke, P. A., & Loeppert, R. H. (2020). Methods of soil analysis, part 3: Chemical methods (Vol. 14). John Wiley & Sons.
    2. Azimzadeh, Y., Shirvani, M., & Shariatmadari, H. (2016). Rhizosphere and green manure effects on soil chemical attributes and metal bioavailability as a function of the distance from plant roots in mono and mixed corn and canola cultures.
      Archive Agronomy and Soil Science      . 62(8), 1066-81. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 03650340.2015.1110576.
    3. Cakilli, H., Ates, O., Taspinar, K., & Kizilaslan, F. (2025). Impacts of elemental sulfur application on soil microbial activity in alkaline calcareous soil. Geomicrobiol Journal, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2025.2490032.
    4. Abd El-Aziz, M. A., Abd Elghany, S. H., Elbagory, M., El-Gamal, B. A., AbdEl-Khalek, A. A., AbdEL-& Azeem, S. M. (2025). Enhancing soil health and crop performance under saline-sodic calcareous soil: A comparative study of nano-sulfur and mineral sulfur combined with compost application. Agronomy, 15(3), 510. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy15030510.
    5. Germida, J. J., Wainwright, M., & Gupta, V. V. S. R. (2021). Biochemistry of sulfur cycling in soil. In: Soil biochemistry. CRC Press. p. 1–53.
    6. Davoodi, M. H., Ghaderi, J., & Khavazi, K. (2018). Effect of sulfur on some chemical properties of soil and nutrients concentration in wheat grain (Triticum astivum L.). Journal of Water and Soil Conservation, 25(5), 265-80. https:// doi.org/10.22069/jwsc.2019.14774.2979. [In Persian]
    7. Kaplan, M., & Orman, S. (1998). Effect of elemental sulphur and sulphur containing waste in a calcareous soil in Turkey. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 21(8), 1655-65. https://doi.org/10. 1080/01904169809365511.
    8. Mirzapour, M. H., Khavazi, K., & Naeini, M. R. (2018). Effect of sulfur, Thiobacillus and phosphorous application on canola yield and some soil chemical characteristics. Journal of Sol Biology, 5(2), 109-21. https://doi.org/10.22092/ sbj.2018.115683. [In Persian]
    9. El-Fatah, M. S., & Khaled, S. M. (2010). Influence of organic matter and different rates of sulfur and nitrogen on dry matter and mineral composition of wheat plant in new reclaimed sandy soil. Journal of American Science, 6(11), 1078-84.El-Tarabily, K. A., Soaud, A. A.,
      Saleh, M. E., & Matsumoto, S. (2006). Isolation and characterization of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, including strains of Rhizobium, from calcareous sandy soils and their effects on nutrient uptake and growth of maize (Zea mays L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 57(1), 101-11. https://doi. org/10.1071/AR04237.
    10. El-Kholy, A. M., Ali, O. M., El-Sikhry, E. M., & Mohamed, A. I. (2013). Effect of sulphur application on the availability of some nutrients in Egyptian soils. Egyptian Journal of Soil Science, 53(3), 361-77. https://doi.org/10.21608/ ejss.2013.173.
    11. Rahman, M. M., Soaug, A. A., Darwish, F. H. A., Golam, F., & Sofian-Azirun, M. (2011). Growth and nutrient uptake of maize plants as affected by elemental sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer in sandy calcareous soil. African journal
      of biotechnology      , 10(60), 12882-9. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB11.2075.
    12. Islam, M., Siddique, K. H. M., Padhye, L. P., Pang, J., Solaiman, Z. M., & Hou, D. (2024). A critical review
      of soil phosphorus dynamics and biogeochemical processes for unlocking soil phosphorus reserves. Advances in Agronomy, 185, 153-249. https://doi. org/10.1016/bs.agron.2024.02.004.
    13. Zhang, H., Yang, Y., Chen, F., Liu, D., Zhu, R., & Wu, S. (2024). Removal and recovery of phosphorus by a long–term stabilized amorphous calcium carbonate. Separation and Purification Technology, 350, 127956. https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.seppur.2024.127956.
    14. Imran, M., Sajida, P., Amjad, A., & Fayaz, A. (2014). Influence of sulfur rates on phosphorus and sulfur content of maize crop and its utilization in soil. International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences, 3(11), 1194-200.
    15. Erdem, H., Torun, M. B., Erdem, N., Tolay, I., Günal, E., & Özkutlu, F. (2016). Effects of different forms and doses of sulphur application on wheat. Turkish Journal of Agriculture-Food Science and Technology, 4(11), 957-61. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v4i11. 957-961.837.
Journal of Soil Management and Sustainable Production
Volume 16, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 119-135

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics