Nano-sulphur can boost India's mustard yields by 20-30%: TERI scientist

Field research by TERI shows nano-sulphur can push mustard yield by 25-30 per cent similar to genetically modified DMH-11 trials but by using conventional varieties

Can extensive use of nano sulphur solve India’s perennial problem of low oilseed yields, which is a major hindrance in the country’s journey towards self-sufficiency?

 

Well, scientists from TERI claim it can.

 

TERI scientists claim that the nano sulphur developed by them increases yield of mustard by 30-40 per cent from 1,156 kilogram (kg) per acre (with regular practice) to 1,559 kg per acre (around 3.7 tonnes per hectare) and increases oil content by 28-30 per cent.

 

DMH-11, the genetically-modified mustard, increases average per hectare yield by 10-40 per cent in various multi-site trials conducted so far.

 

Existing mustard varieties give an average per hectare yield of around 1-1.8 tonne, reports show.

 

“Our research found nano sulphur to give similar yield enhancement as DMH-11 using conventional (non genetically-modified) varieties,” Pushpalata Singh, associate director, nano commercial production at TERI told Business Standard.  

 

Mustard was chosen to test the efficacy of nano sulphur because sulphur in soil helps mustard get higher yield and higher oil content. “To improve oil content in mustard, one needs a good amount of sulphur,” Singh said.

 

Further, field studies by TERI suggested that use of nano sulphur on mustard crops leads to increased plant height, branches, chlorophyll content, and biological yield.

 

It also replaces up to 50 per cent of traditional sulphur fertilisers and can lead to an additional earning of up to ₹12,000 per acre for farmers.

 

Explaining the trial method, Singh, who had been leading the research in nano fertilisers at TERI, said that to evaluate the bio-efficacy of nano sulphur, trials were conducted on two Indian varieties of Brassica juncea (mustard) in the 2023-24 rabi season in Gurugram, Haryana.

 

She said that two foliar sprays of nano sulphur in liquid form were applied on the crop at 35 and 50 days after sowing.

 

The outcome of the study demonstrated that nano sulphur can substitute up to 50 per cent of traditional sulphur, while providing significant benefits in terms of increasing plant height, branches, chlorophyll content of leaves, and biological yield.

 

“Considering the minimum support price of mustard in Haryana, farmers can generate additional revenue of (approximately) ₹12,000 per acre. The cost benefit would help small farmers compensate for the cost of alternative fertilisers like nano sulphur and any cost associated with foliar application,” Singh said.

 

She added that nano sulphur could prove to be a boon for oilseed crops in India as studies show that almost 41-45 per cent of soils in India are deficient in sulphur.

 

“Bulk of these soils are in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh, all of which are major oilseed producers,” Singh said.

 

Nano sulphur also solves the problem of leeching that conventional sulphur has due to which it bypasses the roots and goes through the soft sandy soil.

 

“Also, if the soil is compact, conventional sulphur gets trapped and does not reach the roots adequately,” she said. “All this does not happen in foliar application of nano sulphur.

 

“In other words, if we apply nano sulphur through seed treatment, almost 90-100 per cent is available for the plant, while in case of conventional sulphur (where there is no seed treatment), just around 10-15 per cent is available,” Singh said.

 

The scientists further claimed that one major difference between nano products currently available, like nano urea and nano diammonium phosphate and the nano sulphur developed by them is that the latter is a completely green product that uses biological agents like plant promoting bacteria that secrete enzymes and metabolites.

 

And, these enzymes and metabolites then help change the nature of the bulk material into nanoparticles.

 

A 500 millilitre bottle of nano sulphur will cost a farmer around ₹450 while a bag of conventional sulphur in different grades varies from ₹900-1,800.

 

Conventional sulphur is applied to the soil through various grades of fertilisers available in the market or individually.

 

For the 2025-26 (FY26) kharif season, sowing for which will start in June, the Centre has fixed the per kg subsidy for sulphur under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy regime at ₹2.61, which was 38 per cent more than the previous kharif and 48.3 per cent more than the recently concluded rabi-sowing season.

 

After phosphorus, sulphur subsidy was hiked the maximum in FY26 kharif season compared to the previous year.