Chemical fractionation, water solubility and temporal distribution of sheep faecal sulphur fractions in grazed pastures receiving long‐term sulphate fertilization

Although over 40% of excretal S is returned to intensively sheep ‐grazed pastures as faecal S, limited information is available on faecal S fractions, their water solubility and temporal distribution. This study reports results obtained from sheep faeces returned to grazed pastures which have received long‐term annual sulphate applications for 15–20 years. Five freshly‐voided sheep faecal samples ( 80%) faecal S fraction, regardless of faecal total S content or the time of year faecal samples were deposited. Faecal ester SO4 2‐ and inorganic _SO4 2‐fractions accounted for 3.3–7.1% and 0.1–1...