~ 41 ~ The Pharma Innovation Journal 2018; 7(8): 41-44 ISSN (E): 2277- 7695 ISSN (P): 2349-8242 NAAS Rating: 5.03 TPI 2018; 7(8): 41-44 © 2018 TPI www.thepharmajournal.com Received: 23-06-2018 Accepted: 26-07-2018 Rajesh Kumar N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India KK Verma N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Ashok Kumar N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Pushpendra Kumar C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India Lalit Krishna Yadav N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Correspondence Rajesh Kumar N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Effect of levels and sources of sulphur on growth, yield, economics and quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under partially reclaimed Sodic soil Rajesh Kumar, KK Verma, Ashok Kumar, Pushpendra Kumar and Lalit Krishna Yadav Abstract The experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of N. D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.) during Kharif season of 2015-2016. The experiment comprises ten treatments viz. 100% NPK (150:60: 40: kg ha -1 ), 100% NPK+ 75% S through SSP, 100% NPK+ 100% S through SSP, 100% NPK + 125% S through SSP,100% NPK + 75% S through Phospho Gypsum, 100% NPK + 100% S through Phospho Gypsum, 100% NPK + 125% S through Phospho Gypsum, 100% NPK + 75% S through Sulphur Bentonite, 100% NPK + 100% S through Sulphur Bentonite and 100% NPK + 125% S through Sulphur Bentonite replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. Rice variety Sarjoo-52 was taken for experimentation. The data revealed that growth parameters viz. plant height, no. of tillers per running meter and leaf area index were found significantly superior over other treatments with the application of 100% NPK + 125% S through SSP. The maximum benefit: cost ratio was obtained in plot treated with 100% NPK + 100% S through SSP followed by 100% NPK + 125% S through SSP, respectively. Keywords: Bentonite, phosphogypsum, rice, sulphur 1. Introduction Rice (Oryza sativa L.), belonging to the family Poaceae (Gramineae) is the most staple food crop of the world. It is the rich source of energy that contains reasonable amount of protein (6- 10%), carbohydrate (70-80%), mineral (1.2-2.0%) and vitamins. More than 90 per cent of the world’s rice is grown and consumed in Asia (rice bowl of the world), where 16 per cent of the earth’s people and two third of world’s poor. According to (FAO 2014) global statistically data, the worldwide production of rice 719.74 million tonnes with acreage of 160.6 mha of production of 475.5 mt. In India it is cultivated over an area of about 43.9 mha with an annual production 106.10 mt (Anonymous 2015) [2] . Uttar Pradesh is the largest rice growing state after west Bengal where it is grown over an area of 5.964 mha and production of 12.91 mt with 1862 kg ha -1 average productivity. The present situations indicate that our population would be 1.5 billion (of the world population of 11 billion) by 2050. Rising population and per capita increase are pushing up the demand, which needs to be met through enhanced productivity per unit area, input and time. The annual increase in demand in India is estimated to be 2.6 millions tones in rice. The 10 th plan has targeted growth rate of 4% plus in agriculture. This demands a concerted material effort considering that the food grain growth rate was only 1.95 per cent during the 10 th plan. Sulphur has vital metabolic function in plants; it is required for synthesis in the form of sulphur containing amino acids (cystine, Cystein and methionine) i.e. essential components of proteins. Sulphur is absorbed by plants in the form of sulphate (SO4 2- ) ion. Sulphur is an fourth essential plant nutrient after N, P and K and the third most widely deficient nutrient (Tondon, 2011) [12] . It plays pivotal role in oil and protein synthesis. Besides its contribution in greater proportion in synthesis of sulphur containing amino acid i.e. (methionine, cysteine and cystine), vitamins like thiamine and biotin, iron-sulphur protein compex-ferrodoxin, sulphur glycosides and co- enzyme-A. About 2 per cent of the organic sulphur in the plant is present in the water soluble thiol (-SH) fraction, and under normal conditions tripeptide glutathione accounts nearly for more than 90% of this fraction. Sulphur requirement for optimal growth varies between 0.1 and 0.5% on dry weight basis of plants and its relative requirement increases in the order of graminae <leguminoceae <cruciferae.