Biological oxidation of elemental sulphur added to three composts from different feedstocks to reduce their pH for horticultural purposes
2007
Fuente, R.G de la | Carrión, C. | Botella, S. | Fornes, F. | Noguera, V. | Abad, M.
The biological oxidation of elemental sulphur (S⁰) added to three alkaline composts prepared with a range of organic wastes (CC, melon crop residues; MC, mixed manures; and BC, pine bark) to reduce their pH was studied. The titration curves showed that to achieve an equivalent pH drop, compost CC needed a larger dose of S⁰ than did composts MC and BC. The acidification efficiency was high in the three composts (>or=53%), but the pH reduction obtained from the titration curves in MC and BC composts was lower than expected. S⁰ oxidation in amended composts was found to be related to pH and CaCO3 content decreases, and to the rise in CaSO4 and electrical conductivity levels. A remarkable increase in the autotrophic bacteria population and a slight increase in heterotrophic bacteria along with S⁰ oxidation were recorded. Actinomycetes, fungi and yeasts were not affected by the addition of S⁰ to composts.
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