Paper · 2019 · Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Development of Biological Sulfur Fertilizer for the Improvement of Desert Soil Fertility in Kuwait

Qadreyah Ahmad Almatawah; Tahani Ibrahim Al-Surrayai

4
claims
6
verbatim quotes
2
citations
2
research areas
—
Not open access

Abstract

Purpose: The alkaline nature of the Kuwait desert soil results in the disturbed of plant germination, absorption of water and fertilizers during growth, leading to an environment, where plants can hardly be grown. The local soil is alkaline with pH normally above 9.00. This is too high for many plant species. With the utilization of newly developed elemental sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria biofertilizer, it is hypothesized that soil is acidified enough to the extent of improving soil property and thus increasing nutrient availability and crop productivity. Methods: In house sulfur-oxidizing microbes were screened, enriched and isolated in Kuwait. The most promising strains were optimized through growth and nutrient modification. The production process for biofertilizer pellets utilizing byproduct sulfur and an inoculum of sulfur-oxidizing microbes were developed. The effectiveness of the pellets as soil enhancers was tested with Alfalfa plant in greenhouse and field conditions. Result: In general, increasing application rates of sulfur, lead significantly to pH decrease and Alfalfa dry matter production increase under greenhouse conditions. The highest application rate of 20 g S kg-1 has caused two unit reductions in the pH of the growth medium within 45 days. On the other hand, the field evaluation for the biofertilizer produced has slightly reduced soil pH compared to the greenhouse pH reduction. Conclusion: The use of the biological sulfur fertilizer has produced positive responses in terms of changing pH of the growth medium in greenhouse and field test as well as the growth responses by the test crop used in this investigation.

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Claims 4

Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

Increasing sulfur application decreased pH under greenhouse conditions.

Taxon
AlfalfaMedicago sativae0
Treatment
increasing application rates of sulfure0
Outcome
pHe0
Direction
decreasee0
Setting
greenhouse conditionse0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Medicago sativa
Medicago sativa · TaxonDrepanostoma · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“increasing application rates of sulfur, lead significantly to pH decrease and Alfalfa dry matter production increase under greenhouse conditions”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1018–1162 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivesignificant (as stated)measured

Claim · model-written summary

Increasing sulfur application increased Alfalfa dry matter production in the greenhouse.

Taxon
AlfalfaMedicago sativae0
Treatment
increasing application rates of sulfure0
Outcome
Alfalfa dry matter productione0
Direction
increasee0
Setting
greenhouse conditionse0

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Medicago sativa
Medicago sativa · TaxonDrepanostoma · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“increasing application rates of sulfur, lead significantly to pH decrease and Alfalfa dry matter production increase under greenhouse conditions”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1018–1162 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The highest sulfur rate reduced growth medium pH by two units within 45 days.

Taxon
AlfalfaMedicago sativae0
Treatment
20 g S kg-1e1
Outcome
pH of the growth mediume1
Direction
reductionse1
Value
two unite1
Qualifier
within 45 dayse1

Not reportedComparator

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Medicago sativa
Medicago sativa · TaxonDrepanostoma · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Alfalfa plant”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 948–961 · show in text ↑
e1

“The highest application rate of 20 g S kg-1 has caused two unit reductions in the pH of the growth medium within 45 days”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1164–1284 · show in text ↑
Intervention effectobservedoriginal resultpositivemeasured

Claim · model-written summary

The fertilizer reduced field soil pH slightly relative to the greenhouse response.

Taxon
AlfalfaMedicago sativae0
Treatment
biofertilizere1
Outcome
soil pHe1
Direction
reducede1
Comparator
greenhouse pH reductione1
Setting
fielde1

Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Medicago sativa
Medicago sativa · TaxonDrepanostoma · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist ↗

Verbatim

e0

“Alfalfa plant”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 948–961 · show in text ↑
e1

“the field evaluation for the biofertilizer produced has slightly reduced soil pH compared to the greenhouse pH reduction”

✓ located verbatim in the source · abstract, characters 1305–1425 · show in text ↑

sulfur atom · yield · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Results differ

16 papers: 11 positive, 5 negative or no effect

10 papers in the same direction as this paper · 5 in the opposite direction

  1. no effect
  2. no effect
  3. no effect

12 papers more in this group

See all 16 papers →

sulfur atom · soil: chemistry · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Results agree

2 papers: 2 positive, 0 negative or no effect

1 paper in the same direction as this paper

  1. positive
See all 2 papers →

inoculation · soil: chemistry · Medicago sativa (alfalfa)Positive and negative results

44 papers: 42 positive, 2 negative or no effect

41 papers in the same direction as this paper · 2 in the opposite direction

  1. negative
  2. negative
  3. positive

40 papers more in this group

See all 44 papers →

Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.