Sulphur management in alkaline soils

IRON PYRITE is a mineral containing iron and sulphur. Pyrites can be used to correct sulphur deficiency in cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fodder, sugarcane, and potato in alkaline calcareous soils and as a amendment for sodic soils. Pyrites, is a slow- release source of sulphur in mitigating the deficiency of sulphur intensively cropped soils. It is applied in moist and well aerated soil and immediately reacts with air and water to form sulphuric acid and iron sulphate.

The sulphuric acid produced may react with the native calcium carbonate in the soil and bring calcium in solution form. The rate of oxidation to sulphur to sulphuric acid depends primarily upon soil temperature, moisture and oxygen availability.

Pyrites can be broad casted 1-2 weeks before sowing and mix it well with the soil but not more than 10 cm deep.

Apart from providing sulphur, it prevents iron chlorosis in plants and possibly also leads to an important in the availability of other nutrients such as P. Iron, manganese and zinc concentrations in plant tissues were found to increase due to application of pyrites.

This is because pyrites not only contains these micronutrients but also enhances the availability of their native forms by increasing soil acidity. The role of pyrite is significant in calcareous soils were lime-induced chlorosis is very common in many crops.

Application of 250 kg ha{+-}{+1} pyrite helped to correct lime induced chlorosis in calcareous soils.

L. Chithra & P. Janaki

Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry

T N A U, Coimbatore 641 003

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