Response of sulphur in rice – A review

Sulphur as essential mineral nutrient plays key roles in protein production, chlorophyll formation and oil synthesis. Besides it is a constituent of the amino acids, vitamins, iron-sulphur protein and co-enzyme A. Sulphur requirement for optimal growth varies between 0.1 and 0.5% on dry weight basis of plants and it increases in the order of gramineae < leguminoceae < cruciferae. Feild experiments showed that the sulphur application improves seedling height, plant height, leaf number and dry matter production, yield attributes and yieids of rice-upto 40 kg S ha⁻¹ in different agro-climatic zones of the country. Grain protein content and nutrient uptake by the plant has also been reported to increase by the appllication of sulphur upto 60 kg S ha⁻¹ depending upon the sulphur status of the soil.