Response of mustard (Brassica juncea) to varying levels of sulphur and fortified vermicompost under loamy sand soil

Effect of sulphur and fortified vermicompost on growth and yield of mustard [Brassica juncea] was carried out at College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner (Rajasthan) during rabi season: 2010–11. Sixteen treatment combinations comprising four levels of each sulphur and fortified vermicompost were evaluated. Progressive increase in levels of sulphur from control to 40 kg ha⁻¹ resulted significant improvement in growth and yield attributest. Seed yield and net returns during the crop season, it represented the seed yield 15.98 q ha⁻¹ that was 8.9 and 24.02 per cent higher than 20 kg ha⁻¹ and control, respectively. Remaining at par with 60 kg ha⁻¹, it also fetched 10.47 and 30.4 per cent higher net returns than above levels of sulphur. Growth and yield attributes, seed yield as well as net returns in mustard also increased considerably with every increase in levels of fortified vermicompost. The highest value of most of these attributes was recorded under 6.0 t ha⁻¹, only. Providing the seed yield of 18.65 q ha⁻¹, this level enhanced it to the extent of 10.86, 13.34 and 79.68 per cent over 4.0 t ha⁻¹, 2.0 t ha⁻¹ and control, respectively. Application of fortified vermicompost at 6.0 t ha⁻¹ fetched the maximum net returns of Rs 29551 ha⁻¹ that were 8.17, 33.73 and 86.05 per cent higher than 4.0 t ha⁻¹, 2.0 t ha⁻¹ and control.