Effect of Sulfurous and Sulfuric Acids on Soil Properties and Growth of Soybean

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Researcher, Chemistry, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Department, Soil and Water Research Institute, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Soil and Water Research Institute

3 Researcher, Irrigation and Soil Physics Department, Soil and Water Research Institute, Iran

Abstract

The annual production of sulfur is high in Iran because the country has large resources of fossil fuels and sulfur is a byproduct of oil refining. Most of the produced sulfur is used in the production of sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) has been successfully used for reclamation of calcareous soils. This experiment was conducted in 2011 in a completely randomized block design with three replications and three treatments to compare the efficiency of sulfurous acid with sulfuric acid in water and soil quality and plant growth. The treatments included control (without use of acidic water pH=7.6), and two acidic waters made by sulfuric acid and sulfurous acid (both with pH=6). To evaluate the effect of treatments on soil chemical properties, soil moisture of  the pots was raised to field capacity moisture content and was air dried. After seven irrigations, certain soil properties such as pH, EC, OC, P, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu were determined. Then, soybeans were planted. During cultivation, irrigation (according to treatments) was performed by acidic waters. Some growth parameters such as leaf color, plant height, dry weight of stems and leaves, and leaves nutrients were measured. The data were analyzed with SAS software and charts were drawn by EXCEL. The results showed that pH of irrigation water was reduce from 7.2 to 5.5 by injecting SO2. The effect of treatments on soil organic carbon (OC) and soil pH were negligible. But, the amount of salinity, potassium, phosphorus and micronutrients had significant differences with the control treatment. The effect of treatments on soybean leaves showed that the concentration of nitrogen and potassium were not significantly different between the treatments. But the concentrations of the leaves micronutrients (Fe, Zn, and Mn) were significantly different from the control treatment. The effects of sulfurous acid with pH=6 were almost similar to that of the sulfuric acid with pH=6 in irrigation water. Use of acidic water increased Fe, Zn, P, and Mn in soy bean.

Keywords


  1. احیایی، م. و ع. ا. بهبهانی زاده. 1372. شرح روش­های تجزیه شیمیایی خاک (چاپ اول). نشریه فنی شماره 893، موسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب، نشر آموزش کشاورزی،کرج، ایران.
  2. امامی، ع. 1375. روش­های تجزیه گیاه. نشریه فنی شماره 982، موسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب، نشر آموزش کشاورزی،کرج، ایران.
  3. بی­نام. 1392. شرکت ملی گاز ایران. http://sulfur.nigc.ir/fa/sulfurfacts/introduction
  4. پسندیده، م.، پ. کشاورز و م. ج. ملکوتی. 1384. کاربرد دستگاه گوگردسوز در کشاورزی (مشخصات فنی و مکانیسم). نشریه فنی 413. موسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب. نشر آموزش کشاورزی، معاونت تحقیقات و آموزش. وزارت جهاد کشاورزی، کرج، ایران.
  5. خلخالی، م. 1370. آموزش کلاسیک و برنامه­ای شیمی مدرن- واکنش­های شیمیایی، نشر کلمه، تهران، ایران.
  6. شهابی، ع. ا. و م. ج. ملکوتی. 1382. نقش بیکربنات در بروز ناهنجاری­های تغذیه­ای در درختان میوه. انتشارات معاونت باغبانی، وزارت جهاد کشاورزی، تهران، ایران.
  7. کریمی، ح.، تفضلی بندری، ع. و ن. ع. کریمیان.1381.  اثرات کاربرد آهن و اسید سولفوریک بر برخی ویژگی­های رشدی و عملکرد توت فرنگی در خاک آهکی. مجله علوم و فنون باغبانی ایران. 3(2-1):29-38.
  8. مهاجر میلانی، پ. 1388. اصلاح کیفیت آب­های بی کربناتی در کشت­های هیدروپونیک. اولین کنگره ملی هیدروپونیک و تولیدات گلخانه­ای.
  9. مهاجر میلانی، پ.، م. ج. ملکوتی. 1382. ضرورت همگانی کردن استفاده از دستگاه گوگردسوز در راستای اصلاح کیفی آب آبیاری. نشریه فنی شماره 314. موسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب، نشر آموزش کشاورزی، معاونت تحقیقات و آموزش. وزارت جهاد کشاورزی، کرج، ایران.
  10. Boxma, R. 1972. Bicarbonate as the Most Important Soil Factor in Lime Induced Chlorosis in the Netherlands. Plant and Soil, 37: 233-243.
  11. Gregory, R. 2001. Uses of Sulfuric Acid as A Water Amendment In Agriculture. Presented at the International Irrigation Show San Antonio, Texas, November 4, 2001.
  12. Kinsolla, P. 2000. Soil reaction. Chapter 9. Soil acidity. Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
  13. Lindsay WL. 1991. Inorganic Equilibria Affecting Micronutrients in Soils. Soil Science Society. Am. Book ser. No. 4, 2nd ED., Soil Science Society. Am., Madison, WI, pp. 89-112.
  14. Mohammadi Ghehsareh, A. and N. Samadi. 2011. Effect of Acidification on Growth Indices and Microelements Uptake by Greenhouse Cucumber. African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7(11), pp 1659-1665.
  15. Nourgholipoor, F., M. J. Malakoti, K.Khavarzi. 2000. The Effect of Availability From Phosphate Soil Source and Its Replacement Possibility with Phosphate Fertilizers for Corn Plant.  Proceeding of Second National Congress on Best Usage of Fertilizer and Pesticide in Agriculture. Karaj, Iran, pp. 220-221.
  16. Ryan, J. and J. L. Striehlein. 1979. Sulfuric Acid Treatment. Inorganic Phosphorus Forms and Plant Growth. American  Journal of Soil Science. 43:731-735.