Effect of P and S Nutrition on Yield and Quality of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Phosphorus–sulphur interaction was studied in a field experiment at Agricultural Research Station, Durgapura, Jaipur on a loamy sand soil (Typic Ustipsamment) deficient in S and medium in P with chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) as a test crop. The treatments consisted of three levels of S (0, 15 and 30 kg ha⁻¹) and four levels of P (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) applied through gypsum and triple superphosphate, respectively. Results indicated that grain and straw yield; content of N, P and S; and uptake of P and S increased with increase in rate of application of P and S individually as well as in various combinations. Applied S and P increased the number of nodules plant⁻¹ and protein content in grain. Available P in soil increased with increasing levels of phosphorus. Similarly available S in the soil increased with increasing levels of sulphur. The synergistic effect of phosphorus and sulphur was observed on yield, number of nodules plant⁻¹, protein content and uptake of S and P.