| dc.description.abstract | Peat moss is an organic substance corroded by sphagnum moss and has a pH of 3.0–4.0.
Elemental sulfur is sulfated and oxidized by the action of bacteria to become sulfuric acid. These
biological factors can alter the soil environment. Blueberries require soil with a pH of 4.5–5.2 and
high organic matter content. In this experiment, we investigated whether different treatment rates of
peat moss, elemental sulfur, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria affect changes in soil pH, physicochemical
properties, and electrical conductivity. We detected strong changes in soil pH as a reaction to the
supply of peat moss, elemental sulfur, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The pH of the soil when peat
moss and elemental sulfur each were supplied was reduced. In addition, the pH decreased faster
when elemental sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were supplied together than elemental sulfur
alone, satisfying an acidic soil environment suitable for blueberry cultivation. In this experiment, it
is shown that peat moss, elemental sulfur, and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria are suitable for lowering
soil pH. It was demonstrated that when elemental sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were treated
together, the pH decreased faster than when treated with peat moss. It could be economically
beneficial to farmers to use elemental sulfur and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, which are cheaper than
peat moss, to reduce the pH of the soil. | en_US |
