Effect of Sulphur and Boron on Growth, Biochemical Parameters, Yield and Yield Attributes of Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani, during 2009–2010 to study the role of Sulphur and Boron on the growth, yield and protein content of soybean (Glycine max var. MAUS81). The experiment included three level of sulphur viz. 20, 30 and 40 Kg/ha and three level of boron viz. 10, 15 and 20 and the combinations of these two mineral elements viz. sulphur @ 30 Kg/ha + boron @ 15 Kg/ha and sulphur @ 40 Kg/ha + boron @ 20 Kg/ha with one control treatment. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block design with three replications. Among all the treatments Sulphur @ 40 kg/ha + Borax @ 20 kg/ha showed better performance for chlorophyll content, straw yield/ha and yield/ha. Non significant effect of different dosages of sulphur, borax and their combinations was found on oil content. Numerically higher net assimilation rate was observed in control and boron @ 10 Kg/ha. Increasing levels of sulphur and borax did not show any definite trend of increase or decrease of RGR. Sulphur @ 30 Kg/ha + boron @ 15 Kg/ha was superior for hundred seed weight. From the present study, it could be concluded that the treatments Sulphur @ 40 kg/ha + Borax @ 20 kg/ha (T₈) performed better than other. Application of sulphur and boron in their graded doses individually and in combination altered desired physiological changes which results in improvement of yield.