Interactive effect of sulfur and nitrogen on nitrogen accumulation and harvest in oilseed crops differing in nitrogen assimilation potential

Field experiments were conducted to determine the interactive effect of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) on nitrogen accumulation, its distribution in various plant parts, and nitrogen harvest of oilseed crops viz. rapeseed (Brassica campestris L. cv. 'Pusa Gold') and taramira (Eruca sativa Mill.) differing in their N-assimilation potential. Two combinations of S and N (in Kg/ha): 0S + 100N (-S+N) and 40S + 100N (+S+N) were used. The results showed that combined application of S and N (+S+N) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the nitrogen accumulation in both the genotypes at all the growth stages compared with N applied alone (-S+N). This increase in nitrogen accumulation was due to the improvement in the reduction of nitrate into reduced nitrogen as evident from higher nitrate reductase (NR) activity in the leaves of plants grown with both S and N, compared with N alone. Nitrate-N content in the leaves of plants grown with only N (-S+N) was higher compared to those grown with both S and N (+S+N), showing that combined application of S along with N (+S+N) appreciably reduced the nitrate content in the leaves due to higher NR activity. This decline in nitrate (NO3-) was followed by an overall increase in N-accumulation in the plants. Consequently, the nitrogen content in the plant was increased by 29-148% in rapeseed and 38-166% in taramira with +S+N treatment. Combined application of S along with N (+S+N) also increased seed protein content and nitrogen harvest index of both the genotypes. It is concluded that combined application of S along with N (+S+N) not only increased the N-accumulation, but also its mobilization towards economic sinks.