Responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to sulfur aerosols

Abstract

An investigation into the effects of S- aerosols on five wheat genotypes (viz., GW-322, GW-366, GW-273, GW-173, JW-336), was carried out in field (October, 2016-March, 2017) at Assam Agricultural University (ICR Farm). Simulated S-aerosols viz., (NH4)2SO4, CaSO4, and K2SO4: @ 300 ppm each (≈30 kg N ha-1) along with a control were misted on the plants, on sunny days in the afternoon (after 2–3 P.M.) at three different growth stages i.e. seedling, maximum tillering and spike initiation stages. Therefore, the total concentration of each of the S-aerosols was 900 ppm ≈ 0.9%. The S-aerosols affected the wheat varieties variably which was proved by the significant changes of net photosynthesis rate (Pn), chlorophyll accumulation, enzyme nitrate reductase activity, cell membrane stability (CMS) and cellular [Ca2+] and [K+] concentrations at maximum tillering and spike initiation stages of the crop. The S and N contents in grains, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and sulfur use efficiency (SUE) were also analysed for the crop at harvest. The S-aerosols could augment the SUE and NUE in the wheat crop. The genotype GW-366 was the most responsive under the influence of foliar fertilization with S-aerosols. Among the S-aerosols, (NH4)2SO4 was the most effective in the work.