Response of split application of sulphur on growth, yield and oil content of false flax (Camelina sativa)

Abstract

False flax [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz.] popularly known as gold-of pleasure, a proposed biofuel species is an oil seed crop of Brassicaceae, family introduced in India in 2009. A study was carried out at Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Field Station- Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India during 2011-13 to know the effect of split application of sulphur (20 kg/ha S) on growth, yield and oil content of C. sativa cv Calena (EC-643910). Statistical analysis revealed that split application of sulphur significantly affected parameters undertaken during the study viz. plant height, branch/plant, number of pods/plant, seeds/pod, flowering, pod formation as well as maturity duration, seed yield and oil yield. Camelina productivity enhanced with two split application of S (T 2) and gave 170.84% higher seed yield compared to control. Thus, sulphur applied in two splits resulted in the higher seed yield (1 061.13 kg/ha), oil content (36.43%) and oil yield of 434.345 lit/ha and is recommended for improving the productivity of Camelina as a emerging biofuel crop.