title: Sulfur and Zinc Availability from Co-granulated Zn-Enriched Elemental Sulfur Fertilizers.
abstract: 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, ZnSO4, and ZnO were applied to the center of Petri dishes containing two contrasting pH soils. Soil pH, CaCl2-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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, Universidade Federal de Viçosa , Viçosa, Minas Gerais 36570-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7872-5659
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mattiello
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide , PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Rodrigo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide , PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Fien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degryse
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide , PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Roslyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture and Food , PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Vadakattu V S R
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide , PMB 1, Waite Campus, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.|CSIRO Land and Water , PMB 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D013856:Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans / Q000378:metabolism; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000378:metabolism; D001682:Biological Availability; D004058:Diffusion; D005308:Fertilizers; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015032:Zinc / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D012987:Soil; D013455:Sulfur; D015032:Zinc; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans; Aspergillus niger; Zn diffusion; ZnO; micronutrients; sulfur oxidation