Polysulphate Mustard Trial in India

35

Seed Yield Increase
Trial demonstrates the role of Polysulphate as a sulfur source for mustard crops in India, increasing yield by up to 35%.

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
2014

Trail

35

Seed Yield Increase

Key Conclusions

Polysulphate fertilizer significantly increases mustard seed yield by up to 35%, and the mustard oil yield by up to 39% compared to the control.

Objective

To test the efficacy of Polysulphate as a sulfur source on the performance of mustard (Brassica juncea) crops in India.

Trial Details

Trial station

Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Crop

Mustard

Product

Standard Polysulphate

Assessments

Yield, yield components, oil content, and nutrient uptake

Treatments

The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replicates and included 6 treatments:

  • T1: Control without S and K fertilization (100% NP through urea and DAP only)
  • T2: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, Muriate of Potash (MOP))
  • T3: 100% NP + 50% S through Polysulphate (20 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T4: 100% NP + 75% S through Polysulphate (30 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T5: 100% NP + 100% S through Polysulphate (40 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T6: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, MOP) + 100% S through gypsum (40 kg S/ha).

The recommended dose of fertilizers: 120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5, 60 kg K2O/ha and 40 kg S/ha was applied according to the treatments. The full dose of P, K, and S and a half dose of N were applied at the time of sowing as a basal application. The remaining half dose of N was applied in 2 equal splits.

 

TreatmentNPKSSource of fertilizer
kg/hakg/hakg/hakg/ha
T1NP 100%1206000Urea and DAP
T2NPK (control)12060600Urea, DAP, and MOP
T3NPKS20 Polysulphate120606020Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T4NPKS30 Polysulphate120606030Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T5NPKS40 Polysulphate120606040Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T6NPK 100S40 gypsum120606040Urea, DAP, MOP, and gypsum

Treatments

The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replicates and included 6 treatments:

  • T1: Control without S and K fertilization (100% NP through urea and DAP only)
  • T2: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, Muriate of Potash (MOP))
  • T3: 100% NP + 50% S through Polysulphate (20 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T4: 100% NP + 75% S through Polysulphate (30 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T5: 100% NP + 100% S through Polysulphate (40 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
  • T6: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, MOP) + 100% S through gypsum (40 kg S/ha).

The recommended dose of fertilizers: 120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5, 60 kg K2O/ha and 40 kg S/ha was applied according to the treatments. The full dose of P, K, and S and a half dose of N were applied at the time of sowing as a basal application. The remaining half dose of N was applied in 2 equal splits.

 

TreatmentNPKSSource of fertilizer
kg/hakg/hakg/hakg/ha
T1NP 100%1206000Urea and DAP
T2NPK (control)12060600Urea, DAP, and MOP
T3NPKS20 Polysulphate120606020Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T4NPKS30 Polysulphate120606030Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T5NPKS40 Polysulphate120606040Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate
T6NPK 100S40 gypsum120606040Urea, DAP, MOP, and gypsum

Results

  • Mustard yield increased significantly and steadily in response to the increasing S dose applied through Polysulphate (T3-T5).
  • Mustard seed yield at the maximum S dose, 40 kg/ha applied with Polysulphate (T5), increased by 35% compared with zero S application (T2).
  • The response of oil yield to Polysulphate application was dramatic, providing a 39% increase in oil (T5 vs. T2). Sulfur applied through gypsum (T6) also gave rise to a significant increase in oil yield, although to a lesser extent than Polysulphate.
  • Yield components like pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod, and seed weight were highest at the maximum S level (T5).
  • K and S uptake by mustard crop increased with increasing S dose applied through Polysulphate (T3-T5).

 

Polysulphate significantly increases mustard seed yield by up to 35%.

Polysulphate significantly increases mustard seed yield by up to 35%.

 

From research funded by the International Potash Institute www.ipipotash.org.

 

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