Sulfur transformations in relation to carbon and nitrogen in incubated soils

Abstract

Changes in biomass-S in relationship to biomass-C and N were evaluated, and the transformation of 35S-labelled SO 4 2− among organic matter fractions were followed during incubation of a Black Chernozemic (Udic Haploboroll) and Orthic Gray Luvisol (Typic Cryoboralf) soils. There was a net immobilization of S with and without the addition of cellulose or sulfate after 64 days. In contrast, a net mineralization of N occurred. Cellulose decomposition rates responded to supplies of S available for new microbial cell synthesis. Fluctuations in the amounts of biomass-S during incubation of both soils followed biomass-C and biomass-N changes and C/S and C/N ratios of the biomass ranged between 47–121 and 4.9–7.7, respectively. Microbially-incorporated S was found concentrated within the biomass or partially transformed into soil organic matter. Fractionation of soils after incubation, by a 0.1 m NaOH-0.1 m Na 4P 2o 7 extraction-separation technique showed significant increases in the C and N contents of the conventional humic acid (HA-A) and fulvic acid (FA-A), and humin (<2 μm) fractions. Biomass C accounted for 20–64% of the observed increases in these fractions suggesting that the differences were due partly to transformed microbial products and partly to microbial cell organic constituents released on lysis of cells during incubation. In contrast to C and N, the contents of total S and HI-reducible S increased in the FA-A fraction only and accounted for 45–76% of the immobilized labelled S.