Grain yield, nutrient uptake, quality and economics of soybean (Glycine max) under different sulphur and boron levels in Punjab

A 3-year field experiment was conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during the rainy sea- son of ( kharif) 2006 to 2008, to study response of soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merrill] to different levels of sulphur and born. The experiment comprised of 13 treatments including all the combinations of 4 sulphur (S) levels (10, 20, 30 and 40 kg/ha) and 3 boron (B) levels (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ha) and absolute control (no S; no B). The highest grain yield, protein, oil content, gross and net returns of soybean were recorded with 40 kg S/ha, which were sta- tistically at par with 30 kg S/ha but significantly higher than other levels of sulphur. The productivity in 40 kg S/ha was enhanced 61.9% over the absolute control. The boron level of 1.5 kg/ha recorded the highest grain yield, gross and net returns, being statistically at par with 1.0 kg B/ha but significantly higher than 0.5 kg B/ha. The high- est S and B uptake were recorded in 40 kg S/ha and 1.5 kg B/ha respectively. The highest grain yield recorded in 40 kg S/ha and 1.5 kg B/ha was statistically at par with 40 kg S/ha and 1.0 kg B/ha, 30 kg S/ha and 1.0 kg B/ha, 20 kg S/ha and 1.5 kg B/ha and 30 kg S/ha and 1.5 kg B/ha treatments but was significantly higher than all the other combinations of sulphur and boron.