Enhancing nutrient availability, yield and quality of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) through zinc and sulphur in Alfisol

Abstract

Sulphur and Zn are the two most Limitng nutrients for the yield and quality of Safflower in red and lateritic Alfisols of West Bengal, India. Field experiment on safflower in a red and lateritic soil revealed a significant increase (p<0.5) in dry matter, seed yield, oil content and protein content as a result of three levels each of sulphur (0, 20 and 40 kg ha-1 ) and zinc (0, 2.5 and 5 kg ha-1 ). Results also indicated a considerable increase in uptake of primary elements like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium besides sulphur and zinc due to application of combined doses of zinc and sulphur. Application of Zn @ 2.5 kg ha-1 along with S @ 40kg ha-1 resulted maximum dry matter yield (9640 kg ha-1 ) as well as oil content, significantly higher (p<0.5) over no application of Zn and S. Thus application of proper doses of zinc and sulphur to soil is imperative to avoid the deficiencies of Zn and S and improvement of soil health, yield and quality of safflower in red and lateritic soils of West Bengal, India.