[Comparisons of sulfur contents and isotopes between mosses and surface soils in Jiangxi Province].

ABSTRACT

In order to study the influence of atmospheric sulfur on soil sulfur, the forest surface soil samples and moss samples were collected in north areas of Jiangxi province. Contents and isotopes of sulfur in different forms (total sulfur, water-soluble sulfur, absorbed sulfur and organic sulfur) were determined. The average sulfur content of mosses was 0. 34% +/- 0. 20%. All of the delta34S values except at Fengcheng (-3. 31 per thousand) were positive, the average was 5.64 per thousand +/- 2. 23 per thousand. The average contents of soil total sulfur were between 189.0 mg.kg-1 and 793.5 mg.kg-1. The organic sulfur was the main sulfur form in surface soils and the contents of water-soluble sulfur were the lowest. The delta34S values of total sulfur were in the range of 4. 45 per thousand +/-10. 28 per thousand. The highest soil delta34S values were determined for organic sulfur and the delta34S values of water-soluble and absorbed sulfur were similar. The contents of soil total sulfur were much lower than those of the mosses. Except for organic sulfur (R = 0. 50, P >0. 05) , the delta34S values of total sulfur, water-soluble sulfur and absorbed sulfur were all significantly correlated with those of moss sulfur (R >0.7, P <0. 01). These results indicated that atmospheric sulfur directly affected the total sulfur, water-soluble sulfur and absorbed sulfur, but not the organic sulfur.