Effect of sowing date and moisture-conservation practice on growth and yield of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) varieties

An experiment was conducted during the winter (rab~) season of 2001-02 and 2003-04 at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, to evaluate the effect of sowing dates (15 and 30 October) and moisture-conservation practices (control, 1 weeding and hoeing, grass mulch and paddy straw mulch) on growth and yield of 2 varieties of ('Vaibhav' and 'Urwashi') of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. 8 Cosson] under rainfed conditions. Sowing of variety 'Vaibhav' on 15 October achieved higher seed yield and net monetary return compared to sowing on 30 October and variety 'Urwashi'. Moisture-conservation practices increased the seed yield, yield attributes and net monetary return over the control. Among moisture-conservation practices, paddy straw mulch was found most effective in re- ducing the weed count and enhancing yield and yield attributes markedly. From economic point of view, paddy straw mulch resulted in the highest net monetary returns of Rs 14,799Jha with a benefit: cost ratio of 2.48.