Response of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to Sulphur Fertilization on Yield, Soil Fertility and Economics in Coarse Textured Soils

A series of field experiments, demonstrations and on farm trials were conducted during 2013–14 to 2017–18 at the Regional Research Station, CCS HAU, Bawal, Haryana, India and on the farmers’ fields to study the response of chickpea to sulphur fertilization in coarse textured low S status soils of South-Western Haryana, India. For research experiments, there were five graded levels of sulphur application viz.., 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg S ha¹ laid out in randomized block design with four replications. The results showed that chickpea seed yield increased significantly with application of sulphur at 30 kg S ha^-1. The increase in mean seed yield was 3.87, 8.18, 13.89 and 18.36 per cent due to application of 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg S ha^-1, respectively over control. Sulphur fertilization also significantly increased the total S uptake by chickpea at each level of sulphur application and helped in preventing the depletion of available soil S and enhanced its content in the soil. The mean S-use efficiency varied from 9.30 to 14.43 per cent being maximum with application of 30 kg S ha^-1 (14.43%). The mean economic data analysis revealed that benefit cost ratio also increased with sulphur application and the additional returns per rupee invested on S at 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg S ha^-1 levels of sulphur were Rs. 17.91, 29.45, 41.77 and 36.54, respectively. Based on the results of field experiments, on farm trials and demonstrations were conducted during 2016–17 and 2017–18, respectively on the farmers’ fields with only two treatments i.e. 0 and 30 kg S ha^-1 with plot size of 0.2 ha under each treatment. On an average, the application of 30 kg S ha^-1 increased the chickpea yield over control (S_o) by 8.05 to 13.89 per cent.