Nine chemolithoautotrophic and 12 chemolithoheterotrophic sulfur oxidizing bacteria were isolated using enrichment technique in modified Starkey's medium. All isolates reduced pH of the growth medium through oxidation of elementai sulfur to sulfuric acid. Isolates utilized the thiosulfate as energy source except LCH. None of the isolates grew anaerobically and utilization of glucose was found only in chemolithoheterotrophic isolates SGA6 and JIG. In vitro sulfate production from elemental sulfur was found maximum for chemoiithoautotroph LCH () and least for chemolithoheterotroph JIG (). The above tests suggested that all isolates belong to the member of Thiobacillus. For field inoculation of Thiobacillus, clay based pellet formulation was developed with the cell load of of pellet. It is easy to handle by the farmers and more likely to lead to successful farming.