Response of Indian Mustard (Brassica Juncea L.) Cultivars to Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Indian mustard [Brassica juncea L. (Czern & coss)] is an important oil seed crop of the world. It plays a major role in catering edible oil demand of the country. Among the seven edible oilseed cultivated in India, rapeseed-mustard (Brassica spp.) contributes 28.6% in the total production of oilseeds. An investigation was therefore undertaken on “Response of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cultivars to integrated nutrient management” to optimize the yield and quality of newly released cultivars with appropriate integrated nutrient management practices in sandy loam soils, low in organic carbon (0.45-0.49 %) and available N, medium in available phosphorus and potassium with slightly alkaline reaction, during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at crop research center, S.V.P.U.A.&T., Meerut (U.P). Twenty treatments combinations of 05 cultivars viz.,Pusa mustard 22, Pusa mustard 26, Pusa mustard 27, Pusa Vijay and Pusa Manak in main plot and four integrated nutrient management viz. 100% RDF (120:40:40:20 kg NPKS ha-1), 75% RDF + 2 t Vermicompost, 75% RDF + 2 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) and 50% RDF + 4 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) in sub plot were tested in Split Plot Design with 3 replications. Nutrient application to mustard was made as per treatment and crop was sown on 16th and 18th October, during 2013 and 2014, respectively. The results revealed that Pusa vijay under cultivars and 75% RDF + 2 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor)) under nutrient management system exhibited significant influence on the growth, yield attributes and yields of mustard as compared to 100% RDF alone practices during both the year. Significant improvement in growth parameters viz. plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation as well as crop growth rate, relative growth rate yield attributes and yields was also recorded with the mustard cultivars of Pusa Vijay and 75% RDF + 2 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) under nutrient management system followed by Pusa mustard 22. The gross return, net return and B: C ratio was obtained maximum with the cultivar Pusa vijay among the cultivars and 75% RDF + 2 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) under nutrient management system. Application of 100% RDF resulted in lower gross return, but net return and B: C ratio was produced highest than rest of the nutrient management system except 75% RDF + 2 t vermicompost. While minimum net return and B: C ratio was noticed Pusa manak as well as 75% RDF + 2 tonne Vermicompost. Application of 50% RDF + 4 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) recorded more gross and net return, but due to higher cost of vermicompost reduced the B: C ratio up to the lowest level (2.17 and 2.19) among all the nutrient management system. On the basis of result obtained from two year studies it may be recommended that the application of 75% RDF (90:30:30:15 kg NPKS kg ha-1) + 2 t Vermicompost + Bio-fertilizer (Azotobactor) with the Indian mustard cultivar Pusa vijay will be most beneficial to the farmers, whereas Pusa mustard 22 cultivar is next in order.