Sulfur and zinc availability from co-granulated Zn-enriched elemental sulfur sertilizers

• Autor(a) principal: Mattiello, Edson M.
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Silva, Rodrigo C. da, Degryse, Fien, Baird, Roslyn, Gupta, Vadakattu V. S. R., McLaughlin, Michael J.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.6b04586; http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/12389
• topic: Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans; Aspergillus niger; Micronutrients; Sulfur oxidation; Zn diffusion; ZnO

Acidification by oxidation of elemental sulfur (ES) can solubilize ZnO, providing slow release of both sulfur (S) and zinc (Zn) in soil. For this study, a new granular fertilizer with ES and ZnO was produced and evaluated. The effect of incorporating microorganisms or a carbon source in the granule was also evaluated. Four granulated ES−Zn fertilizers with and without S-oxidizing microorganisms, a commercial ES pastille, ZnSO 4 , and ZnO were applied to the center of Petri dishes containing two contrasting pH soils. Soil pH, CaCl 2 -extractable S and Zn, and remaining ES were evaluated at 30 and 60 days in two soil sections (0−5 and 5−9 mm from the fertilizer application site). A visualization test was performed to evaluate Zn diffusion over time. A significant pH decrease was observed in the acidic soil for all ES−Zn fertilizer treatments and in the alkaline soil for the Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans-inoculated treatment only. In agreement with Zn visualization tests, extractable-Zn concentrations were higher from the point of application in the acidic (62.9 mg dm −3 ) compared to the alkaline soil (5.5 mg dm −3 ). Elemental S oxidation was greater in the acidic soil (20.9%) than slightly alkaline soil (12%). The ES−Zn granular fertilizers increased S and Zn concentrations in soil and can provide a strategically slow release of nutrients to the soil.