Yield, Nutrient Balance and Water Use Efficiency as Influenced by Moisture Conservation Practices and Sulphur Sources of Indian Mustard under Rainfed Conditions

摘要

In view of the meagre information available on moisture conservation practices and efficiency of sulphur sources in rainfed mustard, a field experiment was conducted at ARSS, Aklera (Jhalawar) during Rabi 2008-09 and 2009-10 to find out the best moisture conservation practices and sulphur source for increasing productivity and soil health. Moisture conservation practice of straw mulch 4 t/ha (21 DAS) + kaolin 6% spray at 60 DAS recorded significantly higher seed yield (1653 kg/ha), NPS uptake, net return (Rs. 20197/ha) and WUE over rest of the moisture conservation practices. Among the sulphur sources, use of bentonite sulphur gave significantly higher seed yield (1501 kg/ha), NPS uptake, net return (Rs. 18948/ha) and WUE over other sources of sulphur. Maximum nutrient use efficiency (18.37 kg/kg nutrient), nutrient harvest index (61.96%), net positive balance of N (9.2 kg/ha), P (0.8 kg/ha), and S (1.8 kg/ha) in soil was observed with moisture conservation through straw mulch 4 t/ha + kaolin 6 % spray. Use of bentonite sulphur gave higher nutrient use efficiency, nutrient harvest index, positive balance of P and S compared to gypsum and wettable sulphur which showed a negative balance of these nutrients in soil. Whereas, all the sulphur sources showed a negative nitrogen balance of in soil.