Interactive effect of sulphur and nitrogen on the oil and protein contents and on the fatty acid profiles of oil in the seeds of rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.) and mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern. and Coss.)

The effects of the interaction of sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N) on the oil and protein contents and the fatty acid profiles of oil in the seeds of the Brassica genotypes viz. Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss cv. Pusa Jai Kisan (V-1) and Brassica campestris is L. (V-2) were investigated. Three levels of S (0, 40 and 60 kg ha(-1)) in combination with three levels of N (60, 100 and 150 kg ha(-1)) were tested as treatments: T-1 (0S + 100N), T-2 (40S + 60N), T-3 (40S + 100N), T-4 (60S + 100N), and T-5 (60S + 150N). Observations indicated that application of combined doses of S and N resulted in 5.0-10.9% and 6.9-8.9% enhancement in the oil content of seeds of V-1 and V-2, respectively, when compared with application of N without S (T-1). Maximum oil content (48.1% in V-1 and 51.2% in V-2) was observed in treatment T-4 (60 kg S ha(-1) and 100 kg N ha(-1)). Increases in the oleic acid and linoleic acid contents and decreases in the eicosenoic acid and erucic acid contents were recorded in both genotypes with the application of S with N, when compared with N alone. Protein, N and S contents were maximum in treatment T-3. The results obtained in this study suggest that a balanced N and S supply should be maintained for both quantity and quality of oil of Brassica genotypes.