ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Soil alkalinity causes an imbalance of multiple nutrients because of reduced availability under alkaline soil pH conditions. Soil applications of developed sulfur amendments were evaluated and used for initial reclamation and long term maintenance of soil quality. A joint research project was conducted in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) in cooperation with Japan Cooperation Center, Petroleum (JCCP) during the period December 1999 and March 2003. The main objective of this project is to develop soil amendment product utilizing byproduct sulfur from hydrodesulfurization processes in Kuwait and an inoculum of sulfur-oxidizing microbes. During this study sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated, production process for soil amendment pellets was developed and the effectiveness of the pellets as soil enhancers was demonstrated. The second phase of this joint project started from April 2003. The main objective of this phase is the large scale production, optimization and implementation of an effective soil amendment product for enhancing desert soil fertility.
