Emissions of Biogenic Sulfur Compounds from Various Soils

The emission of carbonylsulphide (COS), dimethylsulphide (DMS) and carbondisulphide (CS2) from several soils in Germany has been examined by means of a dynamic gas emission chamber. The compounds were sampled by cryogenic technique and measured by subsequent GC/FPD-analysis. It was found that the sulfur emission rate strongly depends on a number of influencing factors: soil order, temperature and moisture appeared as the major factors controlling sulfur source strengths. Furthermore, diurnal and seasonal variations of sulfur emission rates were observed.