ABSTRACT

Sulfur deficiency is recognized as a constraint to crop production all over the world from last decade. The soils of Northwestern Himalayas are also administering sulfur deficiency. To achieve higher yields with better nutritive quality, the plant fertilization management must include sulfur. Critical-level approach hardly advocated in vegetables, and no reports of critical limits of S were reported in Northwestern Himalayas. The present experiment on French bean and cauliflower on 10 types of soil (varying in pH and clay content) was laid out in completely randomized design under glass house with five levels of sulfur (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 kg ha⁻¹). Application of sulfur significantly increased the yield of French-bean and cauliflower as compared to no application of sulfur. The highest yield was obtained with application of 40 kg S ha⁻¹ in both the crops. The green pod yield of French-bean at 30 kg S ha⁻¹ was statistically at par with 40 kg S ha⁻¹. Critical limits of sulfur in soil were 9.5 mg kg⁻¹ and 10.5 mg kg⁻¹ for French-bean and cauliflower, respectively. Critical limits of S in French-bean and cauliflower plants were 0.103 and 0.336% sulfur, respectively. Critical limits of S in French-bean and cauliflower will help to supply nutrients in balanced amount and to achieve sustainability in production.

摘要

从过去十年起，硫缺乏被认为是世界各地作物生产的制约因素。喜马拉雅山西北部的土壤也缺硫。为了获得更高的产量和更好的营养品质，植物施肥管理必须包括硫。在蔬菜中几乎不提倡采用临界水平的方法，喜马拉雅西北部没有关于 S 临界限值的报道。目前在 10 种土壤（pH 值和粘土含量不同）上进行的法国豆和花椰菜试验是在玻璃房下完全随机设计的，硫磺含量为 0、10、20、30 和 40 千克公顷^{- 1}）。与不施硫相比，施硫显着提高了法国豆和花椰菜的产量。在两种作物中施用 40 kg S ha ^-1获得最高产量。法国豆在 30 kg S ha ^-1时的绿豆荚产量在统计上与 40 kg S ha ^-1相当。对于法国豆和花椰菜，土壤中硫的临界限值分别为 9.5 mg kg ^-1和 10.5 mg kg ^-1。法国豆和花椰菜植物中硫的临界限值分别为 0.103% 和 0.336%。法国豆和花椰菜中 S 的临界限值将有助于提供均衡数量的营养并实现生产的可持续性。