Effect of Sulphur Levels on Growth, Yield Parameters, Yield, Nutrient Uptake, Quality and Economics of Sunflower: A Review
Sunflower is an important crop cultivated all over world owing to its versatile nature of adaptation to different agro-climatic and soil conditions. In India sunflower gains momentum as an edible oil and ranks fourth substantially by reducing the shortage of vegetable oil. Nutritionally sunflower oil benefits human due to presence of high linoleic acid content and absence of linolenic acid content. The productivity is lower due to different factors among which nutrient management especially sulphur that plays pivot role in governing the growth, yield and quality of sunflower. Sulphur contains aminoacids viz., cystein, methionine, cystine, vitamins B, biotin and thiamine. The protolytic enzymes aids in improving the oil content, protein content and quality of seeds by sulphur supplement. Extensive investigations of research scientist on sulphur levels were critically reviewed. Application of sulphur at 40 to 60 kg ha-1 was found to increase the growth and yield attributes, yield, quality as well as higher benefit cost ratio sustaining the livelihood of sunflower growers.