Effect of Sulphur Application on Grain Yield and Economics of Wheat Grown at Farmers' Fields

摘要

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is major cereal crop of Punjab that responds to fertiliser application. In the S-deficient soils, on-farm trials (OFTs) were conducted at four different farmers' field locations during rabi 2011-12 and 2012-13 to evaluate the effect of S application on wheat grown under irrigated conditions. Treatments consisted of application of balanced (NPK) and unbalanced (NP) fertiliser application along with S on grain yield and economics of wheat production. Results showed significantly higher wheat grain yield with NPK+S application as compared to other treatments. Application of NP+S did not significantly increase the grain yield over NP alone. Conversely, the application of NPK+S showed significant increase in wheat grain yield over NPK alone application. Application of NPK+S significantly increased the ear length, number of grains ear~(-1), effective tillers and 1000-grain weight, compared with other treatments. Highest B-C ratio (Rs.2.53 Re~(-1)) and net returns (Rs. 50.9x10~3 ha~(-1)) were observed with NPK+S application. Production efficiency (322 kg day~(-1) ha~(-1)) and economic efficiency (Rs. 375 day~(-1) ha~(-1)) were also higher with NPK+S application. Our results thus showed increase in grain yield and yield attributes of wheat with balanced fertiliser application along with S in the S-deficient soils.