Open AccessSulphur Supply Enhances Wheat Growth and Yield on Saline-Sodic Soil
Author(s) -
Muhammad Arshadullah,
Syed Ishtiaq Hyder,
Amjad Ali
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pakistan journal of scientific and industrial research. series b: biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.117
H-Index - 5
eISSN - 2223-2567
pISSN - 2221-6421
DOI - 10.52763/pjsir.biol.sci.54.3.2011.122.125
Subject(s) - straw , randomized block design , sodic soil , potassium , agronomy , chemistry , sodium , salinity , grain yield , yield (engineering) , field experiment , zoology , saline , biology , materials science , metallurgy , ecology , organic chemistry , endocrinology
. The effect of different S levels (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg S/ha) on growth and ionic concentration of wheat variety Inqlab-91 directly sown on saline-sodic soil (ECe=5.65 dS/m, pH=8.57 and SAR=17.38) was evaluated in a field experiment. Treatments were arranged using randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The crop was harvested at maturity, data on tillering, plant height, spike length, number of grains/spike, 1000- grain weight and yields (grain and straw) were recorded. Na, K, Ca and S concentrations in grain and straw were estimated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Tillering, number of grains/spike, 1000- grain weight and grain yield significantly (p :: 0.05) increased by enhancing the S application. Maximum wheat yield (4.66 t/ha) was recorded when S was applied at 75 kg/ha, which was 43% more than the control treatment. Maximum number of tillers/plant (161) and number of grains/spike
(56) were recorded with sulphur applied at 75 kg/ha. Positive correlation (r = 0.85), (r = 0.88) between calcium, potassium and negative correlation (r = -0.84) between grain sodium content and wheat grain yield was recorded. It indicates that presence of significantly higher Ca and K contents of grain receiving S application might possibly help plants to attain more Ca and K and avoided sodium uptake to alleviate salinity/sodicity stress. Economical analysis showed that maximum value cost ratio (5.5:1) was achieved with the application of 25 kg S/ha.