Sulfur processing in soil from high and low elevation forests in the southern appalachians of the united states

• Published in: Soil biology & biochemistry Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 693 - 702
• Main Authors: Stanko-Golden, K.M., Fitzgerald, J.W., Swank, W.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1992; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: acid deposition; adsorption; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; altitude; assimilation; biological activity in soil; Biological and medical sciences; cellobiose; Chemical, physicochemical, biochemical and biological properties; comparisons; environmental factors; forest soils; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; humic acids; Inceptisols; mineralization; mixed forests; movement in soil; Organic matter; Physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biology of agricultural and forest soils; seasonal variation; soil organic matter; soil pH; soil pollution; Soil science; soil temperature; soil water content; spatial variation; sulfates; sulfur; transformation; watersheds; North Carolina; Appalachians; United States; North America; America; High altitude; Sulfur Organic compounds; Forest soil; Biogeochemical cycle; Sulfates; Inorganic element; Soils; Adsorption; Organic matter cycle; Ecosystem; Watershed; Sulfur; Inceptisols; Altitude
• ISSN: 0038-0717; 1879-3428
• DOI: 10.1016/0038-0717(92)90048-3

Samples of A, E, and B horizons, collected from a high and a low elevation watershed, were analyzed for their capacity to adsorb sulfate, generate organic S and mobilize organic S. Sulfate adsorption potentials were significantly greater in soil from the high elevation watershed compared to that from the low elevation watershed. Only A horizon samples from the two watersheds were statistically different in their capacity to synthesize organic S, although when these samples were incubated at ambient soil temperatures, no statistical difference in organic S formation was observed. Soil moisture, carbon, pH and S constituents were quantified and relationships between these variables and S processing potentials were determined. With high elevation samples, carbon content was positively correlated with organic S formation rates ( r = 0.90; P < 0.005). Sulfonate S was the major S constituent of these soils; however, insoluble ester was the major S constituent in samples from the low elevation watershed. A 60–70% increase in organic S formation rates was observed after amendment with cellobiose with samples from all horizons of the low elevation watershed, indicating that soil from this watershed may be energy deficient in terms of organic S formation. Attempts were made to determine which S processes may be involved in ecosystem-level responses currently being observed with these watersheds.