Optimizing sowing schedule and nutrient strategies for enhanced soil fertility and yield performance of Toria (Brassica rapa L.) in the indo-Gangetic region

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024-25 at the Crop Research Farm, Maharishi University of Information Technology, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), to evaluate the interactive effects of sowing dates and integrated nutrient management on soil fertility, growth, and yield of Toria (Brassica rapa L.). The study was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications, comprising nine treatment combinations involving four sowing dates (25th August, 5th September, 15th September, and 25th September) and five nutrient management regimes: 100% organic, 100% inorganic, 75% organic + 25% inorganic, 50% organic + 50% inorganic, and 25% organic + 75% inorganic. The variety PSC 601 was used as the test crop. The results indicated that maximum vegetative growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, and biomass accumulation) were observed under higher proportions of organic nutrient application. However, the highest values for yield attributes—including grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, 1000-seed weight, and number of seeds per silique—were recorded under integrated nutrient management treatments combining organic and inorganic sources. Nutrient uptake analysis revealed minimal uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in treatments receiving either 100% organic or higher proportions of inorganic fertilizers, whereas integrated applications enhanced nutrient absorption significantly. Among the sowing dates, delayed sowing—particularly on 25th September—resulted in superior performance in terms of growth, yield components, and nutrient uptake. The findings suggest that, under agro-climatic conditions of the eastern Indo-Gangetic region, sowing Toria (PSC 601) on 25th September, coupled with a balanced application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, optimizes soil fertility and crop productivity.