Effect of Gibberellic Acid Spray during Ontogeny of Mustard on Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Yield Characteristics

Abstract

AbstractIn a field trial conducted during 1993–1994, mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna was sprayed with either deionised water or 10−5 M GA3 at 40 (vegetative stage), 60 (flowering stage) or 80 (pod fill stage) days after sowing (DAS) to select the suitable growth stage for spray for augmenting productivity of the crop. Shoot length per plant, leaf number per plant, leaf area per plant, dry weight per plant and leaf area index and accumulation of N, P and K were recorded at 100 DAS. Pods per plant, seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index and seed yield merit were computed at harvest. Growth, NPK accumulation and yield were maximal when spraying was done at 40 DAS. However, spraying at 40 and 60 DAS gave at par values for most of the growth and yield parameters. It was also noted that there was a significant difference in spray treatment at different growth stages only when G A, was sprayed and not when water was sprayed.