Effect of Sulphur and Zinc on Yield and Economics of Soybean (Glycine max L)

Abstract

Micronutrients are required in relatively smaller quantities for plant growth; they are as important as macronutrients for plants. Zinc on the other hand, is an essential element used by the crop in small quantities and is a pivotal component of many enzymes’ requisite for plant hormone balance and Auxin activity. The experiment was conducted during kharif, 2024 at new experimental cum demonstration field, SVIAg, SVVV, Indore. The field experiment was carried out in randomized block design with eight treatments consisted of T1 – Absolute control, T2 – RDF, T3 – Sulphur 20 kg ha-1 + Zinc 05 kg ha-1, T4 - Sulphur 20 kg ha-1 + Zinc 10 kg ha-1, T5 - Sulphur 30 kg ha-1 + Zinc 05 kg ha-1, T6 - Sulphur 30 kg ha-1 + Zinc 10 kg ha-1, T7 - Sulphur 40 kg ha-1 + Zinc 05 kg ha-1, T8 - Sulphur 40 kg ha-1 + Zinc 10 kg ha-1, and each experimental unit was replicated thrice having the gross plot size of 3.60 x 4.50 m2 and net plot 3.00 x 4.30 m2. This experiment tested the recommended soybean variety, JS 9560. Higher yield contributing character such as number of pods (43.00) plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (21.82 g), and seed yield plant-1 (14.33 g), higher grain yield (19.90 q ha-1), straw yield (31.78 q ha-1) and biological yield (51.68 q ha-1), gross monetary returns (₹ 99483.20 ha-1) and net monetary return (₹ 50970.73 ha-1) and highest B:C ratio (2.05) was recorded in treatment Sulphur 40 kg ha-1 + Zinc 10 kg ha-1 than rest of the treatments and was on par with treatment Sulphur 30 kg ha-1 + Zinc 10 kg ha-1. Whereas, the minimum number of pods (25.17) plant-1, pod yield plant-1 (14.21 g), and seed yield plant-1 (9.87 g), seed yield (11.24 q ha-1), straw yield (17.96 q ha-1), and biological yield (29.20 q ha-1) were recorded under treatment absolute control. However, number of seeds pod-1, test weight and harvest index were found to be non-significant effects among different treatments under study.