Effect of Soil and Foliar Applied Boron on the Growth and Seed Yield of Mustard (Brassica juncea) Var. Sindh Raya

Boron (B) is important micro nutrient for plants. Understanding the role of B for enhancing the productivity of crop plants is vital, therefore explored in mustard. The field study investigated the response of mustard (Var. Sindh Raya) to soil and foliar applied B. The treatments in study included: No Boron application (Control), Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (Soil applied SA), Boron @ 4 kg ha-1 (SA), Boron @ 0.1% (Foliar applied FA), Boron @ 0.2% (FA), Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.1% (FA), and Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.2% (Foliar applied). The statistical analysis of data through analysis of variance technique suggested that application of boron at different doses and forms demonstrated statistically significant (P<0.05) effect on the growth, yield and yield contributing attributes of Sindh Raya when compared with No Boron application (Control). It is obvious from the results of experiment that highest plant height (cm), branches plant-1, pods plant-1, seeds pod-1, seed weight plant-1 (g), seed index (1000-seed weight, g) and seed yield (kg ha-1) were recorded under application of Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.2% (FA), followed by Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.1% (FA). The declining trend in seed yield (kg ha-1) was observed when sole application of boron either in foliar form or soil applied form was applied. Nevertheless, poor growth of plants with less seed production was registered in control plots where boron was not applied. It is pertinent to mention that Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.1% (FA) proved optimal combination due to being statistically equal with Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.2% (FA) almost in all growth and yield traits particularly, seed yield (kg ha-1). Hence, integrated application of Boron @ 2 kg ha-1 (SA) + Boron @ 0.1% (FA) was found appropriate for obtaining optimum seed yield of mustard.