Soil Sulfur Forms in Relation to Physical and Chemical Properties of Midhill Soils of North India

Abstract

Sulfur (S) availability in soils of agriculturally cultivated locations in the intermediate midhill zone of the Jammu region of India is a major concern. The total S content ranged between 193 and 774 mg kg−1. The organic S and nonsulfate S were relatively higher and contributed on average 49.05 and 46.71% of total S, respectively. Inorganic sulfate S contributed least to the total S (0.93 to 11.98%), water‐soluble S from 2.21 to 14.82%, and adsorbed S from 7.15 to 50.26%. All the forms of S except adsorbed S correlated positively and significantly with organic carbon content of soils. The multiple regression analysis revealed that the organic carbon content had greater impact on different S forms followed by clay content. Among different forms of S, total S was correlated positively and significantly with organic S (r = 0.983∗∗) and nonsulfate S (r = 0.980∗∗).