Distribution of Sulphur in Some Soils of Meghalaya

Abstract

A study was undertaken to generate information on the distribution of different forms of sulphur in the soils of Meghalaya. Surface soils (0-15 cm) were collected from 10 (ten) different locations comprising 3 districts viz., Jaintia hills, East Khasi, and Ribhoi districts of the State of Meghalaya belonging to three soil orders. Soils from Meghalaya were acidic in nature with mean pH value being 5.49. The organic carbon contents were in general medium with mean value of 0.703 and texturally the soils varied from Sandy to Clay loam. The available P was in general medium to high. The soils of Meghalaya have adequate available S. The water soluble S had a mean value of 6.19 mg kg–1 soil for Meghalaya. Sulphate S varied between 2.89 and 4.02%. The fraction is low probably because of coarse soil texture thereby leading to its leaching. This fraction exhibited a significant negative correlation with pH and positive correlation with organic C. The adsorbed S fraction had a mean value of 15.2 mg S kg–1 soil contributing 2.35 to 4.23 percent of total S. The non-sulphate S had a mean value of 111.7 mg kg–1 soil and constituting the second largest fraction. The organic S averaged 324 mg kg–1 soil and contributed about 63.18 to 76.45% of total S. Organic S had a significant positive correlation with organic C, total N, and all form of S except non-sulphate S (NSS). The soils of Meghalya are, in particular, high in native S content.