Effect of Different Sources and Levels of Sulphur on Yield, S Uptake and Protein Content in Rice and Pea Grown in Sequence on an Acid Alfisol

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to study the response of rice and pea grown in sequence to sulphur (S) application on an acid soil of Gridih, Jharkhand. Improvement in yield, S uptake and protein content of rice and pea was recorded with S application at 10 to 40 kg S ha-1 through phosphogypsum, single superphosphate (SSP) and pyrites as compared to control. An increase of 0.54 t ha-1 and 3.57 kg ha-1 in grain yield of rice and S uptake, respectively was recorded with the direct application of 30 kg S ha-1. Further, increase in the level of S (40 kg ha-1) had an adverse effect on grain yield and S uptake. However, protein content of rice increased with the increase in levels of S. The highest protein content of rice (8.24%) was obtained with 40 kg S ha-1. The residual S at 40 kg ha-1 significantly increased the yield of pea from 1.25 to 1.52 t ha-1 over control. Such beneficial effect of S was also found in increasing S uptake and protein content of pea. Among the sources of S, phosphogypsum was superior to SSP and pyrites in rice. On the other hand, pyrites showed higher residual effect in increasing pea yield and S uptake as compared to the rest. The highest S use efficiency was recorded with phosphogypsum at 30 kg S ha-1 in rice and with pyrites at 30 kg S ha-1 in pea.