Evaluation of nitrosulf and elemental sulphur on growth and yield of rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.) in India

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the farmer's field in Adhata village, Amdanga block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India, during the dry season of 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 in an inceptisol (pH 6.8) to evaluate the nitrosulf and elemental sulphur on the growth and yield of rapeseed (cv. B 9). Indeed, there are only four rates of nitrosulf and two rates of elemental S which were applied to the soil. The total S content in dry matter of rapeseed gradually increased up to 80 days of crop growth when S was applied either as nitrosulf or elemental S, being greater with nitrosulf compared to elemental S application. The highest mean S uptake by rapeseed and straw was 286 and 190% increase over that of the control, respectively, in the treatment T₅ (0.2% S as nitrosulf). The mean plant height, number of siliqua plant⁻¹, number of seeds siliqua⁻¹ and thousand seed weight were highest in treatment T₅ with 20, 34.8, 42.9 and 18.9% increase over that of the control, respectively. The yield of seed and stover recorded highest percentage increase of 66 and 71.6%, respectively, in the treatment T₅ over that of the control during both the years.

Keywords:

• rapeseed
• sulphur
• sources
• crop yields
• soil fertility