STUDIES ON RESPONSE OF MUSTARD VARIETIES TO DIFFERENT SOWING DATES UNDER ALLUVIAL SOILS OF INDO-GENGETIC PLAINS

Field experiments were conducted to assess the influence of different varieties and dates of sowing on growth and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L). Mustard experiment was conducted with four dates of sowing and two varieties viz. Pusa Bold and Pusa Jaikisan (Bio-902). Four dates of sowings viz., 21st October, 31st October, 10th of November and 20th of November were used to evaluate their effect on growth and yield of different varieties tested. Highest yield was produced by mustard cv. Pusa Bold among the two varieties tested whereas first date of sowing i.e. 21st October was adjudged as the best time for mustard seeding since substantial decrease in grain yield was observed with delayed sowing. The analysis of variance showed that the difference in seed yield were statistically significant for both the varieties and different dates of sowing in both the years. Mean seed yield reduction, averaged over varieties, were of the order of 16.4, 39.9 and 65.3 percent with second, third and fourth date of sowing in comparison to first sowing. On an average, mean reduction in the straw yield over first sowing with second, third and fourth sowings was 15.2, 37.3 and 53.1 per cent, respectively. In general, duration of each phenological stage was more in the first sowing as compared to other three sowing dates as a fortnight delay in sowing brought about a decrease in duration of phenological events.