Evaluation of critical limit of sulphur in soils for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and mustard (brassica napus L.)

Abstract

The conception of critical limit (CL) of a nutrient element distinguishes its deficiency from sufficiency, which could advise fertilizer application. A pot culture experiment was conducted during Rabi season (2019–2020) to study the CL of sulphur (S) in soil and plant. A total of 20 soil samples collected from intensive cropping areas of three agroecological zones (AEZs) of Bangladesh were used in the experiment. The 0.15% CaCl2 extractable S (expressed as available S) contents of the test soils ranged from 6.84 mg/kg to 38 mg/kg. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. BARI gom 30 and mustard (Brassica napus L.) cv. BINA sorisha 9 were used as test crops in this study. There were two rates of S application to soil-0 and 15 mg/kg for wheat and 0 and 18 mg/kg for mustard from gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O). Each S treatment was replicated thrice. Dry matter yield, S content and S uptake by the crops increased with added S. For mustard, the CL of soil S was estimated to be 14 mg/kg by graphical procedure and 11 mg/kg in statistical method while plant tissue concentration showed the CL of 0.35% in both methods. The CL of soil S for wheat was found to be 14 mg/kg and 11 mg/kg in graphical and statistical methods, respectively, and the CL of plant tissue concentration was recorded as 0.14%, in both methods. It is expected that mustard and wheat crops would respond to S fertilization in soils containing S at or below the CL. The results would be useful for predicting crop (wheat and mustard) response to S fertilizer and developing efficient S fertilizer management to promote sustainable crop production.