Although sulphur is one of the more abundant elements present in plants, its importance as a plant nutrient has been underestimated until comparatively recently. Scientific literature over the past few years, however, shows that interest in the determination of sulphur in natural waters, soil and plant materials has been renewed. Perhaps the main reason for the non-recognition of the importance of sulphur as a plant nutrient is the fact that sulphur-deficiency seldom occurs since sufficient sulphur is usually added to the soil in rainfall (particularly near industrial towns) to supply all the sulphur requirements of plants. In addition, sulphur is frequently present in fertilizers added to soils to counteract deficiency in other elements, especially phosphorus. Superphosphates, for example contain up to 60%, gypsum. Sulphur is also added to the soil in some instances in order to reduce the soil pH, the elemental sulphur being fairly readily oxidised in the soil to sulphuric acid. The organic fraction in the soil also contains sulphur.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:rhodes/vital:4520 |
| Date | January 1962 |
| Creators | Smith, Anthony John Hibbert |
| Publisher | Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MSc |
| Format | 134 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Smith, Anthony John Hibbert |
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