Improving yield of barley grown on coarse textured soil by compaction and sulphur fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in loamy sand at SKN College of Agriculture, Jobner to study the effect of different levels of compaction (i.e. 0, 2, 4 and 8 passes of 500 kg manually driven iron roller at proctor moisture) and sulphur (i.e. 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg S ha-1) on soil physical properties, growth attributes and yieldof barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The soil compaction with 8 passes of 500 kg manually operated iron roller has increased maximum bulk density and moisture storage capacity besides, decrease in saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil. Soil compaction by 8 passing of iron roller increased the bulk density and moisture retention at both flowering and harvest stage of crop and decreased saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil having maximum values in 15-30 cm soil layer. Maximum increase in the growth attributes and yield was recorded under the treatment 8 passes of 500 kg iron roller and 45 kg S ha-1 application. However, 4 passes of 500 kg iron roller and 45 kg S ha-1 application was statistically at par with 8 passes of 500 kg iron roller and 45 kg S ha-1 application with respect to above parameters. In combined effects of compaction and sulphur, the yield of barley increased linearly up to 8 passes of iron roller with 30 kg S ha-1 application as compared to rest of the treatments.