Influence of sulphur on the performance of mustard in southwest semiarid zone of Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was carried out on typic ustochrepts at Madhurikund Farm, Mathura on mustard (var. Varuna) in split-plot design with three dates of sowing (September 25, October 10 and October 25) in the main plots and four levels of Sulphur (0, 25, 50 and 75 Kg/ha. in combination with three levels of Zinc (0,15 and 30kg/ha) in sub-plots. The experiment was replicated thrice. Application of sulphur significantly increased the plant height, number of green leaves, branches and siliquae per plant but failed to show any significant effect on crop maturity and yield attributes like siliquae length, seeds per siliquae. However, sulphur application significantly increased seed yield, seed oil and protein content. Optimum level of sulphur application calculated on the basis of response curve found to be 54.62 kg/ha. Application of one-kilogram sulphur increased seed yield by 8.86 kg, seed oil content by 0.07% and seed protein content by 0.08%. No significant interaction between zinc and sulphur was found.