Integrated effect of sulphur and farm yard manure on yield, quality of crops and nutrient status under rice-mustard cropping system in north eastern coastal plain zone of Odisha

Field experiments were conducted during 2012–13 and 2013–14 on sandy loam soil of irrigated medium land with paddy (var. Ranidhan) at Regional Research & Transfer Technology Station, Ranital Farm, located at Bhadrak, Odisha followed by mustard (var. M 27) grown during rabi season as residual crop in same experimental plot without application of sulphur and farmyard manure. Integrated use of 30 kg S along with FYM either @1.5 or 3.0 t ha⁻¹ is beneficial in terms of crop productivity. Paddy and mustard crops registered additional grain yields of 57.8% and 58.5% with combined application of 30 kg S ha⁻¹ and 3 t ha⁻¹ FYM over control, respectively. Residual effect was more prominent under application of 30 kg S along with FYM either @ 1.5 or 3.0 t ha⁻¹. Seed yield of mustard increased by 15.5 and 16.3%, respectively with combined use of S and FYM over single application of 30 kg S ha⁻¹. Quality characteristics of rice and mustard were also influenced significantly and favorably by integrated sulphur management. Integration of S and FYM resulted in an increase of 6.8 to 12.8% in oil content of mustard over control. Combined application of 45 or 60 kg S with 1.5 or 3.0 t FYM ha¹ recorded higher content of available N and S in soil over lower levels of S resulted in buildup of 13 to 16 kg of available N and 16.6 to 19.9 kg of available S over initial level.