Management of sulphur for yield augmentation in rice (Oryza sativa) under rice fallow system

Sulphur (S) is ranked as 4th most essential nutrient after nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which plays a vital role in crop production. Its uses have declined in recent years. S-deficiency in soils of Odisha has increased from 36% during 2008-09 to 44% in 2018-19. A field experiment was conducted at farmers' field in Ankurda village, Goindia block of Dhenkanal district, for two years (2018-19 and 2019-20) in order to study the effect of different sources of sulphur in rice (Oryza sativa L.) (cv. Swarna Sub 1) under mid-central table land zone of Odisha. The experiment was conducted in RBD with 10 treatments and 3 replications. Four different sources of sulphur (SSP, calcium sulphate, elemental S-0 and navaratna as (20-20-0-13) were used with two methods, viz. basal and top dressing to rice crop during rainy (kharif) season. A mixture source was formulated with (CaSO4 + SSP) @1:1 ratio which was applied as basal only. Among the sources of sulphur applied, highest biomass yield was recorded with spilt method of ES which followed the order as: ES degrees>mixture source>navaratna>SSP>gypsum. Due to S fertilization, the biomass yield increased by 16% over the control (T-1). Spilt application of sulphur fertilizer exerted a beneficial effect on yield attributing character, higher grain and straw yield, nutrient uptake, sulphur use efficiency and sulphur harvest index, quality parameters and B:C ratio of Swarna Sub-1 in comparison to basal application of fertilizers during rainy (kharif) season.