Effect of Sulphur and Zinc Levels on Growth, Yield and Quality of Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh), during the rabi season of 2008-09 in RBD and replicated three times. The sowing was done on November 20, 2008. The treatments comprised four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg S ha⁻¹) and four levels of zinc (0, 5, 7.5 and 10 kg Zn ha⁻¹). The mustard variety “Varuna” was used as test crop. Application of 60 kg S ha⁻¹ and 10 kg Zn ha⁻¹, produced significantly higher plant, primary and secondary branches plant⁻¹, number of leaves plant⁻¹, days taken to flowering, days taken to maturity, number of siliqua plant⁻¹, length of siliqua, and number of seeds siliqua⁻¹, harvest index and oil content. However, dry matte accumulation plant⁻¹, 1000-grain weight (g), biological yield, seed yield, stover yield and protein content significantly increased with increasing dose of sulphur up to 40 kg and zinc 7.5 kg ha⁻¹. The highest benefit cost ratio (1.68) was obtained with treatment combination S₄₀Z_7.5. The interaction effect of sulphur and zinc levels on various parameters of mustard was found non-significant.

         Keywords: Growth, mustard, quality, sulphur, yield, zinc