Author(s): P. PATRA, B. K. PATI, G. K. GHOSH, S. MONDAL, G. C. MALIK AND P. K. BISWAS

Abstract: Laboratory investigation was carried out to study the oxidation pattern of elemental sulphur as affected by levels of organic matter and liming in a typical acidic lateritic soil of Dhalla of Birbhum district of West Bengal. Results revealed that liming as well as organic matter favours the oxidation of elemental sulphur. The treatments comprised of three levels of sulphur (0, 50 and 100 mg kg-1) as elemental sulphur, three levels of organic matter (0, 5 and 10 tons ha-1) and two levels of lime (lime as per lime requirement and no lime) incubated at field capacity for 60 days. Under liming, the rate of oxidation increased with the increase of incubation period irrespective of levels of elemental sulphur and organic matter. It is interesting to note that the treatments that received organic matter along with elemental sulphur under non-limed condition resulted in a temporary crisis of SO4-S up to 7 days of incubation and thereafter the rate of oxidation was faster with the increase in levels of organic matter and days of incubation. The oxidation of elemental sulphur under limed condition resulted in an increase of pH, although the treatments almost regain to its original pH values prior to completion of incubation period.

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