Dynamics of Soil Sulfur Due to Application of Water Hyacinth Compost Based Biochar and Its Relationship with Sulfur Uptake and Sweet Corn Productivity in Inceptisol

Sulfur deficiency has become an emerging constraint in maize production due to reduced atmospheric deposition and intensive cropping practices. Organic amendments such as compost and biochar have the potential to improve sulfur availability through enhanced mineralization and nutrient retention. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of soil available sulfur following the application of water hyacinth compost and biochar, and to assess their effects on sulfur uptake and productivity of sweet corn grown on Inceptisol under pot conditions. The experiment was conducted from May to August 2025 using a randomized block design with seven treatments, consisting of a control, compost-only, biochar-only, and combined compost–biochar applications. Soil available sulfur was monitored periodically during plant growth, while sulfur uptake and ear weight were measured at harvest. The results showed that organic amendments significantly influenced soil sulfur dynamics, characterized by an increase in sulfur availability during early growth stages followed by a gradual decline toward harvest. Treatments combining compost and biochar maintained higher sulfur availability throughout the growing period, resulting in greater sulfur uptake and higher sweet corn ear weight compared with single amendments and the control. Among all treatments, the combined application of water hyacinth compost at 50 g pot⁻¹ and biochar at 100 g pot⁻¹ produced the highest sulfur uptake and the greatest ear weight. These findings indicate that integrating water hyacinth compost with biochar is an effective strategy for improving sulfur nutrition and sweet corn productivity on Inceptisol.