Effect on pH and conductivity by diferents sulphur compounds in saline soils

Identifier:  TFG:304

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG304

Authors:  Palau Albesa, Miriam

Abstract:
One of the main problems in Iberian Peninsula soils, mainly in Mediterranean zone, is high levels of pH and in some cases high salinity. These factors, impact in crops negatively, they don’t take up the amount of nutrients necessary for their growth although the soil is rich in them. The elemental sulphur is an important corrector of salinity and pH of the soil, but there aren’t too many studies to demonstrate this. Traditionally pure sulphur is added in soil as lentil form, but the tiobacterias presents in soils need much time to degrade this sulphur because it is insoluble and it particle size is big (2-3 mm). The objective of this study is to compare the effect of different sulphur products about the high conductivity and pH in soils of Delta del Ebre. The changes in pH and conductivity have been evaluated in different samples which contain varying amounts of sulphur, in different form as sulphur and tiobacterias obtained commercially. The variation curves have been established for elemental sulphur (Agrosolfo), sulphur melt formulated with bentonite (Afesol 1), micronized sulphur formulated with bentonite by pressure (Afesol 2) and tiobacterias by commercial origin. In all cases, the decrease of pH and salinity has been checked depending on time and different dose. The products of bentonite have been demonstrated that they have a more pronounced effect that elemental sulphur. Besides there aren’t a big differences between the effects of two products that they have been formulated with bentonite, both are optimal to use as correctors. The addition of tiobacterias with sulphur formulated caused a decrease of pH and salinity more important. Only the addition of tiobacterias activated and degraded sulphur, and it was immobilized in the soil, giving a similar results of the simply addition of sulphur.