Sulphur and Boron Influences Soil Quality Indicators in a Typical Entisol

Identifying constraints in terms of physical chemical and biological indicators of soil quality is a major challenge in sustainable management of problem soils. Onattukara sandy soil is delineated as a problem soil in the soil map of Kerala. Crop production in this type of soil is beset with constraints in terms of poor water and nutrient holding capacity, scarce supply of essential nutrients, low organic matter content and the poor biological activity. The present paper attempts to outline the impacts by the application of S and B as gypsum and borax in improving the quality indicators of this soil and also to improve the productivity of sesame, the choice crop in such a soil type. Two field experiments were carried out with four levels each of S and B having a total of sixteen treatment combinations. Application of these nutrients resulted in the general improvement of soil quality in terms of the enhanced organic matter status and dehydrogenase activity. It also resulted in improving the availability of P, K, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn and Zn. The productivity of sesame was also found to be positively correlated with the different levels of S and B. Maximum economic benefit from this crop in this type of soil could be gained by the application of S @ 30 kg ha^-1 and B @ 2.5 kg ha^-1.