Plant nutrient status of cabbage and various soil characteristics as influenced by different sources and levels of sulphur

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2012–13 and 2013–14 to study the influence of different sources and levels of sulphur on plant nutrient status of cabbage and various soil characteristics. The experiment was laid in a randomized block design with three replications. Three sources of sulphur i.e., gypsum, elemental sulphur and potassium sulphate with three levels i.e., 40, 70 and 100 kg S ha⁻¹ for each source were given in the experiment. Potassium sulphate as a source of sulphur recorded highest nitrogen (3.3%), phosphorus (0.017%), potassium (2.15%) andsulphur (0.41%) in cabbage. Increasing levels of sulphur up to 70 kg ha⁻¹ significantly increased the nitrogen (2.9%), potassium (2.1%) and sulphur (0.41%) in cabbage. However, there is a non-significant effect of levels of sulphur on phosphorus content. Elemental sulphur as a source of sulphur recorded the highest available sulphur (12.7 kg ha⁻¹) followed by gypsum and potassium sulphate. Increasing levels of sulphur upt o 100 kg ha⁻¹, there was a significant increase in the electrical conductivity (0.142 d Sm⁻¹), organiccarbon (0.99%), availablenitrogen (318.3kg ha⁻¹), availablephosphorus(24.5 kg ha⁻¹), available potassium (168.6 kg ha⁻¹) and available sulphur (11.5 kg ha⁻¹)statusofthesoil. Maximum headyield and seed yield were recorded with potassium sulphate as a source and increase in level, increased yield up to 100 kg S ha⁻¹.