Integrated effect of sulphur and farm yard manure on yield, quality of crops and nutrient status under rice-mustard cropping system in north eastern coastal plain zone of Odisha
Field experiments were conducted during 2012-13 and 2013-14 on sandy loam soil of irrigated medium land with paddy (var. Ranidhan) at Regional Research & Transfer Technology Station, Ranital Farm, located at Bhadrak, Odisha followed by mustard (var. M 27) grown during rabi season as residual crop in same experimental plot without application of sulphur and farmyard manure. Integrated use of 30 kg S along with FYM either @1.5 or 3.0 t ha-1 is beneficial in terms of crop productivity. Paddy and mustard crops registered additional grain yields of 57.8% and 58.5% with combined application of 30 kg S ha-1 and 3 t ha-1 FYM over control, respectively. Residual effect was more prominent under application of 30 kg S along with FYM either @ 1.5 or 3.0 t ha-1. Seed yield of mustard increased by 15.5 and 16.3%, respectively with combined use of S and FYM over single application of 30 kg S ha-1. Quality characteristics of rice and mustard were also influenced significantly and favorably by integrated sulphur management. Integration of S and FYM resulted in an increase of 6.8 to 12.8% in oil content of mustard over control. Combined application of 45 or 60 kg S with 1.5 or 3.0 t FYM ha-1 recorded higher content of available N and S in soil over lower levels of S resulted in buildup of 13 to 16 kg of available N and 16.6 to 19.9 kg of available S over initial level.