Sulphur nutrient for oil seed 

 Important oil seeds include groundnut, sesamum, sunflower and castor.  Sulphur is generally called the fourth major nutrient after N.P and K because crops in general require S just slightly less than they require P. On the average, oil seed crops absorb 11-12 kg S to produce one tonne of seed.  This is because, in plants sulphur is involved in the formation of oil compounds.  Crops suffering from S-deficiency produce low yields and the oil content is also low.  In groundnuts, due to sulphur deficiency new leaflets are smaller, more yellow and more erect than the normal petiole.  Plants are smaller in size and modulation is poor.  The sulphur causes older leaves to remain green but with time the whole plant turns pale yellow.  The growing tip is affected which results in a creamy-coloured rosette formed on the upper most leave.  Timely steps to ensure that adequate sulphur is supplied to the crop through, S containing fertilizer materials, could correct the deficiencies in standing oil seed crops.  Readily soluble source such as ammonium sulphate is preferable one.

For crops such as groundnut, gypsum or AAP are usually preferred due to the associated beneficial effects due to the association beneficial effects of calcium on pod formation.  Depending upon the soil condition S and the crop, on application of 20-40 kg S/ha will meet the S need of most oil seed crops grown on S deficient soils.  In order to increase oilseed production, sulphur plays an important role and therefore S containing fertilizer materials can be used to boost up the yields of oil seed crops.

Agri.
Yellow Pages
Resources
(Fertilizers)