Author(s):

Nandini Roy and Goutam Kumar Ghosh

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.

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