Impact of Varying Sulfur and Zinc Levels on Linseed Growth, Yield and Soil Properties in Eastern India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2021-22 at Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College Farm in Purnea, Bihar to investigate the effects of different levels of sulfur (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg/ha) and zinc (0, 5, and 10 kg/ha) on the growth, yield along with sulfur and zinc uptake in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) season. The soil was characterized as sandy loam with neutral pH, low organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium available phosphorus and potassium, and deficient in available sulfur and zinc. The treatments were arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replicates. The result indicated that application of sulfur at 40 and 60 kg/ha observed non significant difference in seed and stover yield. However, Zinc application at 10 kg/ha recorded significantly higher stover yields only as compared to 5kg Zn/ha. The oil content in seed was the non significant among 60 kg S/ha and 10 kg Zn/ha as well as the 40 kg S/ha and 5 kg Zn/ha treatments. Sulfur and zinc uptake at 90 days after sowing and harvest was significantly higher with 60 kg S/ha and 10 kg Zn/ha and statistically at par with 40 kg S/ha and 5 kg Zn/ha, respectively. Soil properties such as pH, EC and OC% remained unaffected.