Optimizing yield and physiological performance of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) varieties through sowing dates and nitrogen management

Field experiment was conducted during rabi 2022-23 to study the effect of dates of sowing and nitrogen treatments on yield and physiological performance of Indian mustard varieties at research farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications consisted two dates of sowing and two varieties viz., timely sown ( Oct 20) and late sown (30 Oct) with RH 1424 and RH 725 and four nitrogen levels viz., 0 (control), 60, 80 and 100 kg N/ha as main plots and sub plots treatments, respectively. Results revealed that delay in sowing of Indian mustard varieties RH 1424 and RH 725 significantly decrease growth and yield of the crop. Among the plant water relations, chlorophyll index, decreased significantly with delay in sowing in both the varieties, whereas, canopy temperature, and canopy temperature depression (CTD) increased with delay in sowing significantly. The maximum seed yield was obtained with timely sown crop with RH 1424 (26.13 q/ha) which was statically at par with timely sown RH 725 (23.13 q/ha), thereafter the yield decreased with delay in sowing. Among the doses of nitrogen, maximum seed yield (26.21 q/ha), biological yield (115 q/ha) was obtained with 100 kg N/ha.