TRANSFORMATION OF SULFUR 



601 



The amount of sulfur brought down yearly by rainfall may be as much 

 as 45 pounds per acre. 3 The sulfur content of the soil varies from 0.01 

 to 0.09 per cent, the upper 6 to 7 inches of soil usually containing 250 

 to 1000 pounds of sulfur per acre. 4 According to Kossowitsch, 5 the 

 average sulfur content of the upper 30 cm. of soil is 0.1 per cent S0 3 , 

 while that of the following 70 cm. is 0.025 per cent S0 3 . One-half 

 this amount is sufficient for 285 cereal crops or 70 alfalfa crops (cereal 

 grains containing 0.29 to 0.45 per cent S0 3 ; straw, 0.26 to 0.55 per 

 cent S0 3 ; alfalfa hay, 0.50 per cent S0 3 ). Considerable quantities 

 of sulfur are also brought down by rainfall; this amounts to 1.93 to 

 14.17 mgm. S0 3 per liter, or about 10 pounds per acre (Kossowitsch). 

 The quantity is considerably higher near large cities. Drainage waters 



TABLE 61 

 Sulfur content of various organic materials 



are richer in S0 3 than rainfall; the concentration depending on climate, 

 topography, type of soil, fertilization, etc. Sulfur is also added to the 

 soil in the form of gypsum, superphosphates and elementary sulfur in 

 artificial fertilizers. 



3 Johnson, E. M. Analyses of rainfall from a protected and an exposed gage 

 for sulfur, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonia. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 17: 589- 

 591. 1925. 



* Woodward, J. Sulphur as a factor in soil fertility. Bot. Gaz., 73: 81-109. 

 1922; Olson, G. A., and St. John, J. L. An investigation of sulfur as a plant food. 

 Wash. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 165. 1921; Joffe, J. S. The role of sulfur in agri- 

 culture. N. J. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 374. 1922. 



6 Kossowitsch, P. C. On the cycle of sulfur and chlorine in the soil and on 

 the importance of this process in the life of soils and in the plant world (Russian). 

 Zhur. Opit. Agron., 14: 181-218. 1913. 



