Yield and nutrient contents of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as influenced by applied sulphur in irrigated Inceptisol

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for two years during kharif and rabi seasons of 1996-97 and 1997-98 to study the effect of applied sulphur on yield, phosphorus and sulphur contents in irrigated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in rotation in a sandy loam Inceptisol at Sirsa (Haryana). Four levels of sulphur, viz 10,20,30 and 40 kg sulphur/ha in addition to 0 sulphur (control) were tested. Both the crops responded significantly up to direct application of 30 kg sulphur/ha. Sulphur application significantly increased the sulphur contents in cotton and sunflower seed and phosPhorus content in sunflower seed. The seed cotton and sunflower yield increased by 23.5 and 16.5% respectively with 30 kg sulphur/ha over the control. Similarly, sulphur contents increased from 0.30 to 0.72% in cotton seed and from 0·26 to 0.35% in sunflower seed with the application of 30 kg sulphur/ha. A marginal increase in phosphorus from 6·0-7.0 kg/ha and SO₄-S from 14.0 to 17.3 kg/ha concentrations (in available form) of surface soil was noticed at the end of second year experimentation.