Elemental Sulfur Oxidation by Thiobacillus spp. and Aerobic Heterotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria

The prediction of the oxidation rate of elemental sulfur (S 0 ) is a critical step in sulfur (S) fertilizer strategy to supply plant-available sulfur. An incubation experiment was conducted to determine the rate and amount of S 0 oxidation in relation to the contribution of Thiobacillus spp. and aerobic heterotrophic S-oxidizing bacteria. After 84 days, 16.3% and 22.4% of the total S 0 applied to the soil were oxidized at 20 and 30-C, respectively. The oxidation of S 0 proved to be a two-step process with a...