Author(s): TUSAR PATRA AND S. MAITI

Abstract: Field experiments was carried out during 2002 to 2005 in Entisol Soil of nearly neutral reaction (pH 6.8), sandy clay loam texture and having 0.05% N, 30.82 kg ha-1 available phosphorus, 147.84 kg ha-1 available potassium and 22.46 kg ha-1 available sulphur in a relatively upland situation with irrigation facility at the Instructional Farm of the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India to evaluate the relative performance of three different sources of sulphur (ammonium sulphate, gypsum and elemental sulpher) when applied along with recommended doses of fertilizer (N80P40K40 kg ha-1) and in combination with or without 5 t FYM to rapeseed crop under rapeseed mungbean-rice sequential cropping. Results revealed that in rapeseed mungbean-rice sequential cropping, total productivity (5.09 t ha-1 yr.-1), total equivalent rice yield (9.16 t ha-1 yr.-1) total uptake of NPK and S (733.29 kg ha-1 yr.-1) and increment of soil nutrient status (6.9% N, 7.5% P, 5.4% K and 47.33% S) of the soil after harvesting of sixth crops in sequence were maximum in treatment where rapeseed crop received 40 kg S in the form of Gypsum along with N80P40K40 + 5 t FYM ha-1 and rice crop was fertilized with 60 kg N, 30 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K2O ha-1. But the same crop sequence earned maximum net return (Rs 25,482/- ha yr.-1) and return per rupee investment (Rs 1.78) when the rapeseed crop was manured with 40 kg S ha-1 in the form of ammonium sulphate along with N80P40K40 and 5 t FYM ha-1 and rice crop was fertilized with 60 kg N, 30 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K2O ha-1. Under the same treatment combination the total productivity (4.88 t ha-1 yr.-1), total equivalent rice yield (8.84 t ha-1 yr.-1) total uptake of N, P, K and S (696.85 kg ha-1 yr.-1) by rapeseed, mungbean and rice in the sequence per annum and increment of soil nutrient status (6.9% N, 7.9% P, 4.2% K, 31.8% S) were slightly lower than the previous treatment. Considering economic return and other factors this treatment may be recommended.

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