Total sulphur contents in soils, pasture plants and native grasses were determined in a survey using samples taken from various sites across the country
The most recent volcanic ash soils sampled from Sobetsu in Hokkaido showed low sulphur content, however, most of the humic volcanic ash soils contained more than 0.1% of sulphur.
Soil sulphate extracted by several kinds of extractant showed that there were differences in the organic matter content and levels of so-calIed "plant available sulphur." The latter was probably due to the fact that the various extractants used differed in pH and kind of anions and thus the amounts of "available sulphur" extracted could be a reflection of the buffering capacity of the soils.
Total sulphur content of pasture plants and native grasses sampled mainly at the first harvest in the spring was also investigated. Plant herbage contained approximately 0.2% of sulphur, showing no significant difference between grasses and legumes. Pasture plants from humus-rich volcanic ash soils contained higher levels of sulphur than those from nonvolcanic ash soils. Orchard grass sampled from Sobetsu district also showed a low sulhpur content.