Effect of elemental sulphur extracted from gas associated with oil production on growth and yield of wheat and barley

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Basrah province, south of Iraq, Al-Qurna region during the growing season of 2019 - 2020 to study the effect of elemental sulphur on performance of wheat and barley crops in silty clay soil. Two elemental sulphur levels were used (0 and 80 kg S ha^-1) along with two rates of organic matter (0 and 5%). Total N and S n were estimated as well as total seed yield of the two crops. The results indicated that application of sulphur (80 kg S ha^-1) had a positive significant effect on sulfur concentration in wheat and barley grains.  Application of organic matter (cow manure at rate of 5%) increased in sulfur concentration in seeds of the two crops. Nitrogen concentration in wheat and barley grains were increased with addition of elemental sulphur and organic matter as compared with controls. Results indicating that N/S ratio of wheat grains and barley grain, were decreased with addition of elemental sulphur and organic matter to reached 10.24 and 10.09, respectively. Wheat and barley grain yields were significantly influenced with the application of elemental sulphur and organic matter individual or together. Data showed that addition of organic matter for each level of elemental S increased grain yield reaching highest values (3550 and 3533 Kg ha^-1) at the application of 5% organic matter and 80 Kg S ha^-1 for wheat and barley, respectively.