Sulphur supply enhances wheat growth and yield on saline-sodic soil

The effect of different s levels (0,25,50 and 75 kg s/ha) on growth and ionic concentration of wheat variety hiqlab-91 directly sown on saline-sodic soil (ece=5.65 ds/m,ph=8.57 and sar=17.38) was evaluated in a field experiment. treatments were arranged using randomized complete block design (rcbd) with three replications. the crop was harvested at maturity,data on tillering,plant height,spike length,number of grains/spike,1000-grain weight and yields (grain and straw) were recorded. na,k,ca and s concentrations in grain and straw were estimated using atomic absorption spectroscopy. tillering,number of grains/spike,1000-grain weight and grain yield significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased by enhancing the s application. maximum wheat yield (4.66 t/ha) was recorded when s was applied at 75 kg/ha,which was 43% more than the control treatment. maximum number of tillers/plant (161) and number of grains/spike (56) were recorded with sulphur applied at 75 kg/ha. positive correlation (r = 0.85),(r = 0.88) between calcium,potassium and negative correlation (r = -0.84) between grain sodium content and wheat grain yield was recorded. it indicates that presence of significantly higher ca and k contents of grain receiving s application might possibly help plants to attain more ca and k and avoided sodium uptake to alleviate sahnity/sodicity stress. economical analysis showed that maximum value cost ratio (5.5:1) was achieved with the application of 25 kg s/ha.