Evaluation of soil sulfate extractants and methods of analysis for plant available sulfur

Abstract

A steady decline in sulfur additions to Atlantic Canadian soils has prompted the need for an accurate method of determining their plant available sulfur status. Three soils were extracted with five soil extractants ‐ 0.01M Ca(H2PO₄)₂‐H₂O in 2M HOAc, 0.1M CaCl₂, Bray‐1 and de‐ionized water. The soil extracts were analyzed for sulfur or sulfate using inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry (ICAP), AutoAnalyzer (AAN), anion exchange‐high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC‐CD) or atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results were compared with plant response of sulfur treatments to red clover, ryegrass, canola and wheat in a growth room. Instrument reproducibility and crop response indicated the ideal method of determining plant available soil sulfur was HPLC‐CD using the extractant Ca(H2PO₄)₂‐H₂O.