Effect of sulfur and boron fertilization to soybean on its productivity and nutritional quality in soils of North-Western India

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a leguminous crop with greater sensitivity to sulfur (S) and boron (B) deficiency. Therefore, the field study was conducted with three levels of S i.e. S0: 0, S37.5:37.5 and S50: 50 kg S ha−1 and four levels of B i.e. B0:0, B1.25:1.25, B2.5: 2.5 and B5.0:5.0 kg B ha−1 for improving yield and nutritional quality of soybean. The results indicated that with sole application of 50 kg S ha−1 and 2.5 kg B ha−1 the grain yield increased from 15.34 to 17.95 q ha−1 and 16.02 to 17.49 q ha−1 with increase of 17.0 and 9.2% over control respectively. The combined fertilization with 50 kg S + 2.5 kg B ha−1 increased grain yield to maximum i.e. 18.60 q ha−1 that was at par with application of 50 kg S + 1.25 kg B ha−1. The combined fertilization with 50 kg S + 2.5 kg B ha−1 also resulted in maximum S (8.28 kg ha−1) and B accumulation (51.3 g ha−1) in grains of soybean. Similar was the trend of S and B accumulation in straw of soybean. The apparent recovery efficiency (ARE), and mobilization efficiency index (MEI) of S and B i. were maximum with sole application of 50 kg S ha−1 and 2.5 kg B ha−1. Therefore combined fertilization with 50 kg S + 1.25 kg B ha−1 improved the yield and net return, B: C ratio and so could be considered as the most efficient for soybean.