Effect of rates and sources of sulphur on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa) and soil sulphur

The field trials were conducted during rainy season (kharif) 2002 and 2003 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the relative efficiency of different sources (gypsum, elemental sulphur and cosavet) at varying levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg S/ha) of sulphur in rice. The growth and yield attributing characters of rice increased with the sulphur application. The grain and straw yields of rice increased significantly with increasing revels of sulphur up to 30 kg S/ha. The difference between sulphur sources was generally not significant. However, the economic optimum dose was worked out to be 33 kg S/ha through gypsum, 28-29 kg S/ha through elemental sulphur and 2324 kg S/ha through cosavet. Sulphur removal by rice as well as sulphur content in soil increased with increasing the rate of sulphur application.