Yield, Nitrogen Uptake and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea [L.]) As Effected by Date of Sowing and Nitrogen Levels in Western Haryana, India

The present study was undertaken during 2013-14 and 2014-15 at Chaudhary Charan Singh research farm Hisar, to find out the effect of date of sowing and nitrogen levels on growth, yield, nitrogen uptake and nutrient use efficiencies in western Haryana. The results revealed that plant height, dry matter accumulation, Siliquae per plant, number of seeds of siliqua and 1000 seed weight decreased with each delay in sowing. The seed yield decreased by 39.8 and 38.7 % over November 15, 24.2 and 24.5% over November 5, 6.89 and 7.50 over October 25 in October 15 (2683 and 2586 kg/ha) during both 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. The nitrogen use efficiency decreased by 39.2 and 37.9 % over November 15, 24.4 and 24.6 over November 5, 6.75 and 7.22 % over October 25 in October 15 sown crop during 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively. Increased doses of nitrogen application also increased the plant height, dry matter accumulation, siliquae per plant, Number of seeds of siliqua and 1000 seed weight significantly. Nitrogen application responded seed and biological yields significantly up to 100 kg N/ha. The maximum total N (82.4 and 79.3 kg/ha) uptake was recorded with the application of 100 kg N/ha during 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively and decreased with decreasing dose of nitrogen.