Fractionation of sulphur with different physico-chemical properties of cultivated soils from north western Himalayas

Abstract

Deficiencies of sulphur (S) in agricultural crops are becoming more common but comparatively little is known regarding its kinetics and relation with physico-chemical properties of cultivated soils of North Western Himalayas. Eighty surface soil samples (0-0.15 m depth) from different districts of Himachal Pradesh (India) lying in North West Himalayas were studied in present investigation. The results emanated from the present study revealed that soil pH, organic carbon (OC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in soil samples ranged from 5.45 to 7.18, 7.8 to 15.2 g kg-1 and 6.1 to 17.5 cmol (p+) kg-1. The textural classes varied from sandy loam to clay. Among different fractions of S; organic S was recorded as the dominant fraction in constituting total S followed by heat soluble S than available S and water soluble S. All S fractions were positively correlated with clay, OC and CEC but negatively with sand, silt and pH.