Field experiments were conducted on a silt loam soil (Aeric Haplaquept) to study the effect of S, Zn and B applications on autumn rice and their residual effects on followipg mustard crop. Autumn rice responded significantly to S, Zn and B applications. Application of any two nutrients together increased grain yield but such increase was significant only when Sand Zn were combined. The highest grain yield (4.5 Mg ha−1) was obtained in S + Zn + B treatment with a record of 41.8 per cent yield increase over control while the application of S, Zn or B alone brought 23.3, 21.7 and 14.6 per cent yield increase, respectively. A large portion of the applied nutrients remained in the soil which significantly increased the seed yield and nutrient uptake by the following mustard crop. The residual effects of S, Zn and B should be considered while applying fertilizers to crops.
Rice, mustard, yield, sulphur, zinc, boron, direct and residual effects, nutrient uptake
