Irrigation, nitrogen and sulphur fertilization response on productivity, water use efficiency and quality of Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata) in a semi-arid environment

Abstract

Water and nutrient deficiency are two major constraints that drastically affect rapeseed and mustard production under semi-arid regions of North-Western India. To cope with this problem, a study was undertaken to optimize irrigation, nitrogen and sulphur levels for productivity and quality of Ethiopian mustard(Brassica carinata).Field experiments were conducted during winter seasons of 2004-05 and 2005-06 at the Water Technology Centre (WTC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India. Irrigation, nitrogen and sulphur levels significantly (P<0.05) affected plant height, LAI, siliqua weight, seeds/siliqua, test weight, seed and biomass yield of Ethiopian mustard. Application of three irrigations (seedling, 50% flowering and pod development stage) to Ethiopian mustard increased seed yield by 27-28% compared to one irrigation (seedling stage). Nitrogen @ 90 kg ha-1 produced 49-54 % higher seed yield of Ethiopian mustard compared to no application. Similarly, sulphur application @ 40 kg ha-1 increased seed yield by 33-34 % compared to no application of sulphur. The oil content of Ethiopian mustard was significantly (P<0.05) affected by nitrogen and sulphur levels. Among the three treatments, irrigation treatment only significantly affected evapotranspiration of the studied crop. From the above study, it is suggested that application of 3 irrigations with 90 kg N ha-1 and 40 kg S ha-1 may be practiced for achieving higher seed yield, quality and water use efficiency of Ethiopian mustard in the semi-arid environment of Northern part of India.