Effect of in-situ moisture-conservation practices on productivity of rainfed Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

A field experiment was conducted at Pali-Marwar, Rajasthan, during winter season (rabo of 1997-98 to 2001- 02 to find out the effect of field bunding and deep tillage during preceding rainy (kharif) season and straw mulch on Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] productivity. Field bunding significantly increased mean mustard seed yield by 14.4% and biological yield by 15.3% over no bunding because of increased availability of soil moisture. Water-use efficiency also increased by 9.7 kglha-mm. Deep tillage during monsoon significantly in- creased the seed yield by 45.5 and 11 .I% over pre-monsoon deep tillage in 1999-00 and 2001-02. Straw mulch- ing at 5 tonneslha significantly increased mean seed yield by 17.7% over no mulch, with water-use efficiency of 8.3 kglha-mm.