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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #278295
Title: Potential of elemental sulfur fertigation to reduce high soil pH for production of highbush blueberry

Author
item MACHADO, RUI - University Of Evora
item Bryla, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/12/2012
Publication Date: 6/17/2012
Citation: Machado, R., Bryla, D.R. 2012. Potential of elemental sulfur fertigation to reduce high soil pH for production of highbush blueberry. Meeting Abstract. Meeting booklet.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Blueberry is adapted to acidic soil conditions but is often planted in high pH soils by adding elemental sulfur (S) prior to planting. Two pot experiments were carried out in a glasshouse to determine the potential of applying elemental S by fertigation through a drip irrigation system. In the first experiment, elemental S was applied at four rates of 0, 0.36, 0.72, and 1.44 g per application to 4-L pots filled with one of three different soil textures [1:0, 1:1, and 1:2 sandy loam soil:sand (v/v)]. In the second experiment, elemental S was applied at three rates of 0, 0.36, 0.72 g per application to 4- and 16-L pots filled with soil only. Pots were irrigated using a 2.3 L/h pressure-compensating drip emitter located in the center of each pot. Micronized water-dispersible elemental S granules were dissolved in water and injected through the drip system twice a week for 4 weeks in each experiment. Soil leachate pH decreased from 6.5 to 4.2 within 19 days after elemental S was first applied in the first experiment, but pH was not affected by soil texture or the amount of elemental S applied and decreased only 0.2 units by additional elemental S applications made between 19 and 33 days. Soil and soil leachate pH likewise decreased from 7.3 to 4.5 in the second experiment, but in this case, pH took up to 10 days longer to decline in the 14-L pots than in the 4-L pots. Soil pH in the larger pots was also lower at 0-5 cm depth than at 5-10 cm depth and lower on the edge of the wetting front than directly under the drip emitter. The results indicate that elemental S fertigation is an effective method for quickly reducing soil pH with much less of the product than conventional application and warrants further investigation in the field.