Studies on the sulphur content of soils in relation to sulphur deficiency in plants : A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science with Honours in Soil Science

Abstract

In this study, certain aspects of sulphur in the soil and in the plant are investigated and discussed. As a basis for the work, soils were collected from parts of Canterbury and Otago, some having shown a response to sulphur in the field, while others were not known to be sulphur deficient. The investigations which followed were in three main sections. 1. Soil analyses for pH, total sulphur, soluble sulphates, total carbon and nitrogen and "Truog" phosphates were carried out. 2. The soils were incubated and the mineral sulphur and nitrogen measured. 3. Mustard, a high sulphur-requiring plant, and white clover, were grown in the soils, which were treated with sulphur and phosphorus. The plant material was harvested, weighed and analysed fro total sulphur and nitrogen. The fate of the added sulpur, and its effect on the nitrogen content together with soil property effects were sought.