Effect of Different Nutrient Combinations on Growth, Yield of Mustard and Nutrient Availability in Soil

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different nutrient combinations on growth, yield of mustard and nutrient availability in soil at Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), during Rabi season of 2021-22. The nine treatments consisting application of different nutrients were tested in RBD with three replications. Pusa Vijay was grown as a test variety. Soil of experimental site was low in available nitrogen, organic carbon, medium in available phosphorous and potassium with alkaline reaction. The results revealed that the application of 100% NPKS significantly influenced the growth, yield attributes and yields of mustard as compared to rest of the treatments during year of experimentation. Significant improvement in growth parameters viz. plant height, number of branches plant-1, dry matter (g plant-1), yield attributes, 1000-seed weight, nutrient content and uptake,seed yield was recorded with the application of 100% NPKS over rest of the treatments. The total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur uptake 117.20, 36.84, 128.54 and 29.55 kg ha-1, respectively by mustard crop was also highest with the application of 100% NPKS. From the experiment it was found that nitrogen contributed 30.4 percent toward the seed yield of mustard. Grain yield increased by 13.1 percent due to the application of P over control, 9.7 percent due to application of K and 12.1 percent due to PK application. Over all yield declined by 31.6 percent owing to non fertilization. Stover yield differ significantly due to imbalanced fertilization. Stover yield under different treatments ranged from 55.26 to 78.97 q ha-1. Maximum stover yield 78.97 q ha-1 statistically at par to T2, T3 and significantly higher than the remaining treatments was found in T3 where 100% NPKS was applied, while minimum in control. From the experiment it is concluded that nitrogen is most growth and yield limiting factor while yield and growth also declined with skipping of P or K from NPK but reduction was no significant.