A major
requirement in utilizing elemental sulfur to lower soil pH is the
presence and activity of sulfur oxidizing bacteria (especially the
Thiobacilli) in the soils. The beneficial effects of sulfur application
along with Thiobacillus bacteria for soil reclamation and improvement of
soil nutrient availability have been demonstrated in various fields as well as
in greenhouse studies. In all such investigations, either pure cultures of
Thiobacillus suspension or Thiobacillus bearing soils were utilized
as inoculants, neither of which is applicable on large scale. On the other hand,
the acid produced as a result of the oxidation of the sulfur material during the
growth cycle or long-term maintenance phase of Thiobacillus would cause
limitation on their growth and sharp declines in their population densities. The
present research was aimed at the development of a carrier, suitable for a
long-term maintenance of Thiobacillus bacteria as well as a source of
inoculants to be used in the greenhouse and field experiments. Several easily
available, inexpensive materials that are capable of sustaining the
Thiobacilli were selected and some of their physical and chemical properties
were measured. Then, these materials were mixed in different ratios and 6
carriers were selected. After sterilizing them, 100 ml Thiobacilli
suspension was added to the carriers. The surviving abilities of the bacteria in
various carriers were tested using a completely randomized split-split-plot
design with 12 treatments, 8 sampling times, and 3 replications. Colony count
and pH measurements were made by taking samples at 0, 14, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150
and 180 days intervals after the start of the experiment. The effect of all
treatments on the carrier pH and bacterial population measured at constant time
intervals during a 6-month period for different materials showed significant
differences (1% level). At these time intervals, the pH values were higher at 4
oC than at 25 oC, but bacterial population were higher at 25
oC then at 4 oC. Carrier 3 contained the highest number of
bacteria at 25oC while at 4oC it did not significantly
differ from carriers 2, 4, and 5 in this respect. Carrier 3 maintained a large
population of bacteria for a longer period of time, and, in contrast to the
other carriers, it contained a larger population during the 6-month trial at 25oC
than at 4oC. Therefore, it was selected as the superior carrier.
Carrier 6 showed the lowest numbers of bacteria at both temperatures and,
consequently had the lowest rank.