Effect of sulphur and iron fertilization on performance and production potential of urdbean [Vigna Mungo (L.) Hepper] and nutrients removal under inceptisols

At the present time, incessant cereal-cereal cropping along with haphazard use of nutrients including micronutrients is posing menace to agricultural sustainability and environmental safety. Thus, the present investigation was conducted during kharif season 2013 on sandy loam soil of S.V.P.U.AaT Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) to evaluate sulphur and iron fertilization on performance and production potential vis-a-vis nutrient removal by using F test. The data on active growth and yield with their contributing trait were calculated on net plot area basis (18 m 2 ). Moreover nutrient content in plant, qualities and available soil nutrient status were recorded as per the standard procedure. The experimental results revealed that plant height, number of branch per plant and dry weight at 30 and 60 DAS, number of nodules per plant, number of pods per plant, qualities and nutrient contents were affected significantly by different sulphur and Iron levels. Application of RDF along with sulphur 40 kg ha -1 and Fe 2.5 kg ha -1 gave the maximum grain yield (10.83 q ha -1 ) which increased by 83.56% over control, besides it also improved all growth attributes at 30 and 60 DAS and number of pods per plant. Furthermore, grain yield was positively related with number of branches, number of nodules at 60 DAS (42.46) and number of pods (45.90). The maximum total uptake of P, K, S and Fe by urdbean was recorded as 5.34 kg ha -1 , 30.21 kg ha -1 , 5.22 kg ha -1 , 871.57 g ha -1 respectively by using RDF + Sulphur 40 + Fe 5.0 kg ha -1 , whereas maximum total N uptake (60.03 kg ha -1 ) was noticed under RDF + Sulphur 40 + Fe 2.5 kg ha -1 . It is a legume crop so it is tremendously eco-friendly and useful for sustainable agriculture and soil health.