Determination of the Most Suitable Method to Predict the Available Sulfur Content in Cotton Growing Soils: Evidences from Aegean Coast, Türkiye

Abstract

In this study, conducted on the selection of the most suitable method of determining the available sulfur content of soils where cotton is grown in the Coastal Aegean Region of Türkiye, soil and leaf samples were taken from a total of 40 cotton plantations in five different locations in the Coastal Aegean Region and Gediz Basin. Various physical and chemical characteristics of the soil‘s samples, which were taken from a depth of 0-30 cm, were determined, and the available sulfur contents were determined with the use of seven different extraction solutions. The extraction method or methods by which the highest correlation or correlations were obtained between the available sulfur content of the soils and leaf sulfur contents of the plants in the same plantation were assessed as the most suitable methods. According to the results of the study, the highest soil-leaf correlation was obtained by soil extraction with Ca(H2PO4)2 solution, followed, in order, by the NH4OAc, KH2PO4, cold water and NaCl methods. No significant correlation was found between the amounts of sulfur determined by extraction with CaCl2 and KCl solutions and leaf sulfur contents. It was concluded that the most suitable methods for the determination of available sulfur in the soils of the Aegean Coastal Region where cotton is grown were the extraction methods using Ca(H2PO4)2 and NH4OAc solutions.