Improving Growth and Productivity of Oleiferous Brassicas under Changing Environment: Significance of Nitrogen and Sulphur Nutrition, and Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract

Mineral nutrients are the integral part of the agricultural systems. Among important plant nutrients, nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) are known essential elements for growth, development, and various physiological functions in plants. Oleiferous brassicas (rapeseed and mustard) require higher amounts of S in addition to N for optimum growth and yield. Therefore, balancing S-N fertilization, optimization of nutrient replenishment, minimization of nutrient losses to the environment, and the concept of coordination in action between S and N could be a significant strategy for improvement of growth and productivity of oleiferous brassicas. Additionally, positive interaction between S and N has been reported to be beneficial for various aspects of oilseed brassicas. The current paper updates readers on the significance of N and S for the improvement of plant growth, development, and productivity in detail. In addition, S-N nutrition-mediated control of major plant antioxidant defense system components involved in the removal and/or metabolism of stress-induced/generated reactive oxygen species in plants (hence, the control of plant growth, development, and productivity) has been overviewed.

Sulfur and Nitrogen Co-ordinately Improve Photosynthetic Efficiency, Growth and Proline Accumulation in Two Cultivars of Mustard Under Salt Stress

“…Sulfur and N availabilities closely interact with S and N management by the plant [40]. Positive interaction between S and N has been reported to be beneficial for various aspects of oilseed brassicas including tolerance to various stress factors [41,42] have shown using field-grown oilseed rape that S deficiency can reduce N-use efficiency and that N deficiency can also reduce S-use efficiency. Thus, it may be said that the cultivars with high N assimilation capacity supplemented with adequate S can be a better ameliorator of salt stress.…”

Managing the pools of cellular redox buffers and the control of oxidative stress during the ontogeny of drought-exposed mungbean (Vigna radiata L.)—role of sulfur nutrition

“…The maximum utilization of S in Brassica campestris crop takes place when applied at flowering stage (Ahmad et al, 2005;Anjum, 2006). Application of S increased the seed yield and attributing characters in other crops also (Anjum et al, 2012b).…”

“…S is involved in the light reaction of photosynthesis as an integral part of ferredoxin, a non-haem iron-sulfur protein (Marschner, 1995). Additionally, it plays essential roles in mechanisms like vitamin co-factors, GSH in redox homeostasis, and detoxification of xenobiotics (Anjum et al, 2012b). The S requirement by plants varies with growth stage and with species, varying normally between 0.1 and 1.5% of dry weight.…”

“…Maintenance of the status of mineral nutrients in plants is important for increasing the crop productivity and plant resistance to environmental stress (Cakmak, 2005;Anjum et al, 2008bAnjum et al, , 2012b. The cumulative role of mineral nutrients in modulating cellular levels of AsA and GSH, and in strengthening the plant antioxidant defense system has been discussed extensively (Anjum et al, 2010(Anjum et al, , 2012a(Anjum et al, , 2013Gill et al, 2011).…”

Nitrogen-Sulphur use economics in rapeseed productivity at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal

“…4 N could be a significant strategy for improvement of growth and productivity of rapeseed and mustard. 5 The study of the nitrogen and sulphur interaction is so required to help understand nutritional behavior of sulphur in relation to nitrogen nutrients and provide guidelines for evaluating the balanced fertilizer combination in order to optimize yield and quality of crops. 6,7 Oilseed crops are the third most important crops of Nepal after cereals and legumes in both area and production.…”