EFFECT OF SULPHUR AND ZINC ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF WHEAT

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka to evaluate the effect of S and Zn on the growth and yield of wheat (BARI Gom-29) during the period from December 2015 to March 2016. Four levels of Sulphurviz. (i) S 0 = 0 kg S ha -1 (Control), (ii) S 1 = 10 kg S ha -1 , (iii) S 2 = 15 kg S ha and (iv) S 3 = 20 kg S ha -1 and three levels of boron viz. (i) Zn 0 = 0 kg Zn ha (Control), (ii) Zn 1 = 1.3 kg Zn ha -1 and (iii) Zn 2 = 1.6 kg Zn ha -1 were used as experimental treatments. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data on different growth and yield parameters were recorded and analyzed statistically. Sulphur and zinc individually and also in association gave significant effect on growth and yield of wheat. S 2 (15 kg S ha -1 -1 ) gave the highest number of tillers plant

(3.71), dry weight plant -1 (33.53 g), spike length (9.86 cm), number of grain spike

(32.37), grain yield (4.23 t ha -1 ), stover yield (5.59 t ha -1 ) and the highest harvest index (43.08%). Again, Zn 1 (1.3 kg Zn ha -1 ) highest number of tillers plant -1 (3.73), dry weight plant -1 (5 31.41 g),spike length (9.93 cm), number of grain spike -1 (31.16), grain yield (4.23 t ha -1 ), stoveryield (5.56 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (43.21%). In terms of combination of sulphur with zinc, the highest number of tillers plant -1 (4.05), highest dry weight plant

(34.89 g a), highest spike length (12.40 cm), highest number of grain spike (38.25),

-1 -1 -1 -1 -1 highest grain yield (4.46 t ha -1 ), highest stover yield (5.80 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (43.47%) were obtained from S Zn dose. Finally, all the growth, yield and yield attributing characters were found lowest in control treatments. 2