Effect of starch polymer and N-triacontanol on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

Abstract

Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) only were tested in randomized block design Czernj. & Cosson] is mostly grown on with 4 replications. conserved soil moisture received from Varuna Indian mustard was sown on 20 monsoon rains. Limited water supply and 24 October at a row spacing of 30 cm. restricts the growth and development of The crop was fertilized with a basal dose of crops at various physiological processes N,$,,%,. Jalshakti was used @ 20 g/kg of (Turner and Krarner, 1980). Starch polymer seed through seed-coating as a dry powder, (jalshakti) is capable of absorbing water and and 10 kglha through soil application in releasing it slowly (Bandyopadhyay and furrows. N-triacontanol (5 ml in 500 litres Ray, 1988). Similarly, plant-growth water) was sprayed at 40 and 60 days after regulators minimize the morpho- sowing. Water alone was sprayed @ 500 physiological defects, viz. excessive litreslha at 40 and 60 days. The crop was vegetative growth, unsynchronized flower provided with adequate protection against initiation, flower shedding, immature pods insects, pests and diseases. and seed-shattering, and thereby results The plant height, main brancheslplant, higher yield of oilseeds (Prasad, 1991). leaves~~lant, siliquaelplant and 1,000-seed These materials are commercially available. weight were significantly higher in seed + Therefore present experiment was con- soil treatment of jalshakti, but remained on ducted to study effect of jalshakti and N-tria- on a par with the treatment having 3 contanol on growth and yield characters of irrigations only (Table 1). Foliar application Indian mustard. of N-triacontanol @ 5 mllha; however, The field experiment was conducted at proved inferior to both these above Tikamgarh aria Sagar during winter season treatments, but proved superior to the of 1986-87 and 1990-91 on a medium treatment involving seed-coating or soil black soil. Seven treatments including seed- application of jalshakti. coating one, soil application, seed-coating + Seed-coating or soil application of soil application with starch polymer jalshakti, however, proved superior to (jalshakti), foliar application of N- control with respect to plant height, number triacontanol, water spray, control (with no of leaves and siliquaelplant. Even water irrigation) and control with 3 irrigations spray alone proved significantly superior to