Can sulphur improve the nutrient uptake, partitioning, and seed yield of sesame?

Abstract

Sulphur (S) is considered to improve the nutrient uptake of plants due to its synergistic relationship with other nutrients. This could ultimately enhance the seed yield of oilseed crops. However, there is limited quantitative information on nutrient uptake, distribution, and its associated impacts on seed yield of sesame under the S application. Thus, a two-year field study (2018 and 2019) was conducted to assess the impacts of different S treatments (S0 = Control, S20 = 20, S40 = 40, and S60 = 60 kg ha−1) on total dry matter production, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, S uptake and distribution at the mid-bloom stage and physiological maturity. Furthermore, treatment impacts were studied on the number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, thousand seed weight, and seed yield at physiological maturity in sesame. Compared to S0, over the years, treatment S40 significantly increased the total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and S (by 13, 22, 11% and 16%, respectively) at physiological maturity, while their distribution by 13, 36, 14, and 24% (in leaves), 12, 15, 11, and 15% (in stems), 15, 42, 18, and 10% (in capsules), and 14, 22, 9, and 15% (in seeds), respectively. Enhanced nutrient uptake and distribution in treatment S40 improved the total biomass accumulation (by 28%) and distribution in leaves (by 34%), stems (by 27%), capsules (by 26%), and seeds (by 28%), at physiological maturity, as compared to S0. Treatment S40 increased the number of capsules per plant (by 13%), number of seeds per capsule (by 11%), and thousand seed weight (by 6%), compared to S0. Furthermore, over the years, relative to control, sesame under S40 had a higher seed yield by 28% and enhanced the net economic returns by 44%. Thus, our results suggest that optimum S level at the time of sowing improves the nutrient uptake and distribution during the plant lifecycle, which ultimately enhances total dry matter accumulation, seed yield, and net productivity of sesame.

Analysing the SPAD dynamics of water-stressed vs. well-watered sesame (Sesamum indicumL.) accessions and establishing their relationship with seed yield

“…The results of the present study were also supported by Sehgal et al (2021) , who also suggested that management of sesame crops for optimal yields under varying growing conditions requires an understanding of the key levels of leaf N and the functional relationships between leaf N, growth and developmental processes. In their study, leaf photosynthesis declined at 31 DAS more than stomatal conductance and transpiration rates, indicating that both stomatal and non-stomatal mechanisms are involved in the decrease in photosynthesis in response to leaf N. In addition, Mehmood et al (2021) suggested that the nitrogen uptake or contents of sesame leaves were highest at the mid-bloom stage (65 DAS) and lowest at the physiological maturity stage. This could be due to the higher biomass accumulation and partitioning at the mid-bloom stage (beginning of seed filling stage), which contributes to increasing seed yield in sesame ( Couch et al, 2017 ).…”

Sulfated Nutrition Modifies Nutrient Content and Photosynthetic Pigment Concentration in Cabbage under Salt Stress

“…We observed that the 4.25 mM SO 4 2− dose increased the content of all macronutrients (N, P, K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and S) under conditions of moderate salt stress (75 mM NaCl). Sulfur improves the absorption of nutrients due to synergistic relationships with them [39]. Furthermore, under salt stress conditions, sulfur metabolites such as amino acids, vitamins, the thioredoxin system, glutathione lipoic acid, and glucosinolates have a high potential to promote or modify physiological and molecular processes in higher plants [40].…”

Role of Sulphur Fertilization in Legume Crops: A Comprehensive Review

“…7. Altered Nutrient Uptake: Sulphur deficiency can disrupt the uptake of other essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, leading to further nutrient imbalances [13].…”