Long-term fertilization and manuring effects on the nexus between sulphur distribution and SOC in an Inceptisol over five decades under a finger millet-maize cropping system

Abstract Our investigation revealed that alterations in sulphur (S) pools are predominantly governed by soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (N), microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities in sandy clay loam soil. We employed ten sets of nutrient management techniques, ranging from suboptimal (50% RDF) to super-optimal doses (150% RDF), including NPK + Zn, NP, N alone, S-free NPK fertilizers, NPK + FYM, and control treatments, to examine the interrelation of S with SOC characteristics. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the functional groups present in SOC characterization across four treatments: 100% NPK, 150% NPK, NPK + FYM, and control plots samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was then applied to assess 29 minimal datasets, aiming to pinpoint specific soil characteristics influencing S transformation. In an Inceptisol, the application of fertilizers (100% RDF) in conjunction with 10 t ha− 1 of FYM resulted in an escalation of S pools from the surface to the subsurface stratum (OS > HSS > SO42−- S > WSS), along with an increase in soil N and SOC. FT-IR spectroscopy identified cellulose and thiocyanate functional groups in all four plots, with a pronounced presence of carbohydrate - protein polyphenol, sulfoxide (S = O), and nitrate groups specifically observed in the INM plot. The PCA findings indicated that the primary factors influencing soil quality and crop productivity (r2 of 0.69) are SOC, SMBC, SMBN, SMBS, and the enzyme activity of URE, DHA, and AS. According to the study, the combined application of fertilizer and FYM (10 t ha− 1) together exert a positive impact on sulfur transformation, SOC accumulation, and maize yield in sandy clay loam soil.