Sulphur management in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) – wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system

A field experiment was conducted at New Delhi during 2003 and 2005 on sandy loam soil with 14.35 kg/ha available S to evaluate the relative efficiency of sulphur (S) sources and rates in pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]–wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.) emend. Fiori & Paol.] cropping system. The study revealed that application of 30 kg S/ha being at par with 60 kg/ha produced 24.9 and 0.62 more pods/plant and seeds/pod respectively than control (no S). This increase in yield attributes finally led to 0.47 t/ha higher pigeon pea yield over no S application (1.15 t/ha). S applied to pigeon pea at 60 kg/ha left behind 1.19 kg/ha more S in soil than 30 kg/ha, which resulted in higher grain yield of succeeding wheat by 0.58 tonne/ha. Among the S sources, cosavet being on par with gypsum gave 14.8% (0.23 t/ha) more grain yield of pigeon pea over elemental S (1.55 t/ha). Both these sources also proved superior in their residual effect on succeeding wheat when compared with elemental S. Wheat responded to direct application of 30 kg S/ha only. Cosavet was the best source from productivity point of view. However, application of 30 kg S/ha to pigeon pea as gypsum and to wheat as elemental S was promising in terms of S efficiency and economics.