Effect of Different Sources and Levels of Sulphur on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

to compute the optimum dose and source of sulphur in maize and to evaluate the impact of sulphur on growth, yield attributes and yield of maize. The experiment was carried out with three different sources of sulphur (Gypsum, Ammonium Sulphate and Bentonite Sulphur) and three levels (S @ 40 kg ha -1 , S @ 60 kg ha -1 and S @80 kg ha -1 ) and one source as urea, DAP and MOP and another source as urea, SSP and MOP comprising of eleven treatment combinations which were laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. In all the treatments nitrogen was applied in two split doses 50% as basal and 50% as top dressing at 45 DAS and entire dose of phosphorous, potassium and sulphur were applied as basal. Treatment T 1 was application of recommended dose of fertilizer i.e., N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O-S @ 200-60-50-60 kg ha -1 without sulphur. Treatment T 2 was application of recommended dose of fertilizer through Urea, SSP and MOP. T 3 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 40 kg ha -1 through gypsum; T 4 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 60 kg ha -1 through gypsum; T 5 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 80 kg ha -1 through gypsum. T 6 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 40 kg ha -1 through ammonium sulphate. T 7 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 60 kg ha -1 through ammonium sulphate. T 8 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 80 kg ha -1 through ammonium sulphate. T 9 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 40 kg ha -1 through bentonite sulphur. T 10 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 60 kg ha -1 through bentonite sulphur. T 10 was T 1 + application of sulphur @ 80 kg ha -1 through bentonite sulphur. Highest grain (5596 kg ha -1 ) and stover yield (6995 kg ha -1 ) was recorded by treatment T 10 (S@60 kg ha -1 through bentonite sulphur) followed by treatment T 2 (5581 and 6976 kg ha -1 ) S@40 kg ha -1 through urea, SSP and DAP. Highest gross returns were recorded by T 10 (Rs. 80139 ha -1 ) followed by T 2 (Rs. 78623 ha -1 ) though highest B: C ratio was recorded by T 2 because of higher cost of bentonite sulphur fertilizer.

Effect of sulphur nutrition on growth parameters, yield parameters, yield, nutrient uptake, quality and economics of maize: A review

“…Irfan et al, (2015) [16] documented higher values for sulphur concentration (0.44%) with 75 kg ha -1 than control (0.09%) in maize. Padma et al, (2018) [31] concluded that nutrient uptake of plants and grain were higher with application of 60 and 80 kg ha -1 of sulphur in maize crop from his study. Das et al, (1975) [9,34] documented that application of sulphur at 30 kg ha -1 gave 8 % increase in methionine and 5% increase in cystiene and protein content with 1% in maize crop.…”

“…Kumar et al, (2015) [47,52] registered maximum gross income, net returns, benefit cost ratio were higher with application of sulphur at 50 kg ha -1 and remained at par with 25 kg ha -1 in maize crop. Padma et al, (2018) [31] registered a maximum gross returns and benefit cost ratio with application 60 kg ha -1 of sulphur than control in maize.…”

“…Tirupathi et al, (2016) [54] concluded that application of sulphur at 60 kg ha -1 significantly increased the growth parameters such as leaf area index (3.0), plant height (180 cm), and dry matter (234.7 g plant -1 ) and increasing levels up to 80 kg ha -1 remained statistically on par. Padma et al, (2018) [31] found a significant increase in growth parameters viz., plant height, leaf area index and dry matter production with application of 60 kg sulphur ha -1 over control and remained on par with 40 kg ha -1 of sulphur application in maize. Das et al, (1975) [9,34] found that sulphur application at 30 kg ha -1 increased grain yield of maize by 9% from his study.…”

“…Jaliya et al, (2015) [17] documented that application of sulphur at 5-15 S kg ha -1 produced gave maximum grain yield in maize. Padma et al, (2018) [31] concluded that application of sulphur 60 kg ha -1 gave higher number of grain rows cob -1 , more number of cobs plant -1 , higher grain yield (5596 kg ha -1 ) and stover yield (6995 kg ha -1 ) compared to no application of sulphur in maize. Sanchez et al, (2019) registered that application of sulphur at 50 kg ha -1 significantly increased the number of grains row -1 , thousand grain weight and 42% higher yield in maize compared to control.…”

Strategies for water productivity enhancement in maize—A comprehensive review

“…Actual crop water use is directly related to ET. Maize is an efficient user of water in terms of total dry matter production, and among cereals, it is potentially the highest‐yielding grain crop (Padma et al, 2018). The values of K c reported by various researchers around the globe have been compiled and are presented in Table 3.…”