Response of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivars to different sowing time

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (fa611 season of 1996 97 and 1997 98 to evaluate the effect of sowing time on the growth and yield of lndian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. Cosson] varieties. Significantly superior plant height, branchestplant, siliquaetplant, seedslsiliqua and 1,000 seed weight and seed yield were recorded by the sowing of second and third week of October. However, delay in sowing, i.e. in fourth week of October and first week of November, reduced the seed yield of lndian mustard by 14.4 and 24.7% in comparison with sowing of third week of October respectively. Among the variet es, Pusa Bold and T 59 were found statistically at par in respect of yield and yield attributes, but were significantly superior to Local cultivar, accounting an increase of seed yield by 29 and 20.2% respectively.