Influence of preceding season practices and direct application of fertilizer on growth, yield, oil content and oil production of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) ,

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy and winter seasons of 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 at the farm of Division of Agronomy, lndian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The results revealed that fertiliza- tion of maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and urbean (Phaseolus mungo L.) increased the seed or grain yield of these crops by 31, 54 and 38% respectively. The fertilizer application to preceding crops also significantly improved growth parameters, yield attributes and seed and oil yields of lndian mustard [Bras- sicajuncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson]. The direct application of N and P to lndian mustard also enhanced the growth and seed and oil yields. On an average, 46, 28 and 11% increase in seed yield was recorded owing to 80 kg N + 40 kg P205 over the control, 40 kg P,05 and 40 kg N + 40 kg P205 respectively. However, oil content of lndian mustard decreased significantly due to fertilization of preceding crops and direct application of N and P to mus- tard crop.