Combined Effect of Sulfur and Sulfofertilizer1 on Physiological Traits and Grain Yield of Wheat Cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) in Mahshahr County (South west of Iran)

The addition of organic materials along with sulfur fertilizer to alkaline soils provides an effective solution for reducing soil acidity and enhancing nutrient solubility for plants.
To investigate the combined effect of sulfur and sulfofertilizer1 (biofertilizer) on some physiological traits and yield of wheat cultivars, an experiment was conducted during the 2022-2023 cropping season in Mahshahr County.
Current research was done by using a split-plot experiment within randomized complete blocks (RCBD) design with three replications. The experimental treatments consisted of three levels of sulfur fertilizer (control, no consumption; 270g of sulfur fertilizer; and 270g of sulfur fertilizer + 6g of Sulfofertilizer1, biofertilizer) and three wheat cultivars (Mehregan, Chamran 2 and Khalil), which were assigned to the main and sub plots, respectively.
Significant effects of sulfur fertilizer and wheat cultivars on leaf area index, crop growth rate and grain yield were observed. Moreover, the interaction effects between sulfur fertilizer and wheat cultivars on grain yield were found to be significant. The highest grain yield (averaging 490g.m-2) was achieved in the Khalil cultivar with the combined application of sulfur and Sulfofertilizer1, while the lowest grain yield (averaging 346.8g.m-2) was observed in the Mehregan cultivar without any fertilizer application. Notably, the combined application of sulfur and Sulfofertilizer1 exhibited the most substantial increase in leaf area index, total dry matter and crop growth rate compared to the control treatment. Moreover, distinct variations in physiological growth traits were observed among the wheat cultivars, with the Khalil cultivar displaying superiority over the others.
Based on the findings, cultivating the Khalil cultivar with the application of the biofertilizer Sulfofertilizer1 along with sulfur fertilizer significantly increased grain yield, making it a promising recommendation for the region's conditions.