Mustard Crop Research Articles

Effect of INM practices on productivity, profitability and quality of Indian mustard

Based on the finding of the present study, it can be inferred that application of 100% NPK + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha was recorded significantly higher seed yield 22.2 q/ha, stover yield 136.5 q/ha, oil yield 9.11 q/ha, protein yield 4.42 q/ha and net returns ₹ 51 × 103/ha than that compared to control treatment. Maximum B: C ratio 1.92 was noticed under 100% NPK + B @ 1 kg B/ha which was statistically at par with 100 % NPK + S @ 40 kg/ha, 100 % NPK + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha, 100% NPK + Zn @ 25 kg ZnSO4/ha and 100 % but significantly higher than other treatments, respectively. Hence, the farmers could economically benefited by using 100% NPK + FYM @ 2.5 t/ha in mustard crop under tarai region of Uttarakhand or similar agro-ecoregions.

Incidence, yield losses and symptomatology of sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) incited by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

SSR hamper successful cultivation and causes significant yield losses globally including India. The SSR disease incidence ranged from 3.59 to 18.50 per cent in mustard growing areas of Rajasthan and Bharatpur district having the highest (18.50%) disease incidence. However, the Udaipur district had the lowest (3.59%) disease outbreak. SSR was responsible to cause 18.80 per cent overall yield losses in two consecutive years (Rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18). Highest yield loss (43.82%) was observed from Bharatpur district while minimum yield loss (3.51%) had recorded from Udaipur district. Characteristics symptoms, formation of white mycelium on host stem and development of sclerotia on/inside the stem, of SSR on mustard crop were noted during survey.

Weed control efficacy of combined application of grass pea and mustard crop residues in T. aman rice

Among different methods of weed control, allelopathy could lead to reduced labor costs and increased efficiency, without any adverse effects on the environment. In this regard, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to evaluate the allelopathic potential of grass pea and mustard crop residues on weed suppression and crop performance of transplanted aman rice. The experiment consisted of three cultivars of T. aman rice viz., Binadhan-7, BRRI dhan49 and BR11 and five different level of crop residues such as no use of crop residues, grass pea crop residues @ 2.5 t ha-1, mustard crop residues @ 2.5 t ha-1, combined use of grass pea and mustard crop residues @ 1 t ha-1 of each and hand weeding. All crop residues applied in the experiment suppressed weed growth and inhibition at satisfactory level. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Weed population, weed dry weight and percent inhibition of weed were not significantly influenced by the interaction effect of crop residues (grass pea and mustard) and cultivars. BR11 produced the highest grain and straw yield among the treatment combination. The highest numbers of tillers hill-1, numbers of grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, straw yield were observed in hand weeding, followed by combined application of grass pea and mustard crop residues @ 1 t ha-1 of each treatment. The highest grain and straw yield (4.81 t ha-1 and 7.65 t ha-1) was observed in hand weeding along with variety BR11 and the second highest (4.19 t ha-1 and 7.36 t ha-1) was obtained from combined use of grass pea and mustard crop residues @ 1 t ha-1 of each. The results of this study indicate that hand weeding followed by combined application of grass pea and mustard crop residues @ 1 t ha-1 of each showed potential activity to suppress weed growth.

In Vitro Production of Somaclones with Decreased Erucic Acid Content in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (Linn.) Czern&Coss

Brassica juncea is a crucial cultivated mustard species and principal oilseed crop of India and Madhya Pradesh, grown for diverse vegetables, condiments, and oilseeds. Somaclonal variation was explored as a probable source of additional variability for the manipulation of fatty acids, especially low erucic acid contents that may be valuable for this commercially important plant species. The plantlets regenerated from tissue cultures (R0), their R1 generation and respective parental lines were compared for morpho-physiological traits and fatty acid profile for the probable existence of somaclonal variations. The first putative somaclone derived from genotype CS54 contained 5.48% and 5.52% erucic acid in R0 and R1 regenerants, respectively, compared to the mother plant (41.36%). In comparison, the second somaclone acquired from PM30 exhibited a complete absence of erucic acid corresponding to its mother plant (1.07%). These putative somaclones present a source of variation for exploitation in the development of future mustard crops with low erucic acid content.

Self-organizing map estimator for the crop water stress index

Crop water stress index (CWSI) is a reliable, economic and non-destructive method of monitoring the onset of water stress for irrigation scheduling purposes. Its application, however, is limited due to the need of obtaining the baseline canopy temperatures. This study developed a self-organizing map (SOM) based model to predict the CWSI using microclimatic variables, namely air temperature, canopy temperature and relative humidity. The canopy temperature measurements were made from Indian mustard crop grown in a humid sub-tropical agro-climate during the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Eight levels of irrigation treatments (I1 – I8) based on maximum allowable depletion of available soil water were considered in the study. The CWSI for treatments I2 – I7 was computed using the empirical approach based on the experimentally measured baseline canopy temperatures from treatments I1 and I8. The number of data points used was 1260 and 1350 for model training and testing, respectively. The developed SOM model was evaluated using the error indices Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), bias error (BE), absolute error (AE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The SOM predicted CWSI presented a good agreement with the baseline computed CWSI values during model training (R2 = 0.98, NSE = 0.97, AE = 0.018, BE = 0.0004) and testing (R2 = 0.98, NSE = 0.98, AE = 0.018, BE = 0.002). Treatment specific analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of SOM predicted CWSI for different irrigation levels. Results indicated that the presence of zero CWSI values in a significant proportion in the dataset impacted the model prediction performance at low CWSI (<0.1) values, with an R2 of 0.71 during testing. Nonetheless, the model performed exceptionally well in predicting CWSI values between 0.1 and 0.6 (R2 = 0.93–0.98, NSE = 0.92–0.98, AE = 0.013–0.015, BE = −0.002–0.004), which is the commonly observed CWSI range for irrigation scheduling in field crops. For better understanding, the developed SOM model was also analysed through the component planes, U-matrix, clusters and high-low bar planes in the cluster features.

Improved Method of Boron Fertilization in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)–Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Cropping System in Upland Calcareous Soils

Calcareous soils are highly deficient in boron (B) due to having high levels of free CaCO3 and low organic matter. This has become one of the most important deficient micronutrients in Indian soil after zinc (Zn). For various rice (Oryza sativa L.)-based cropping systems, B fertilization is essential for increasing crop productivity and the biofortification of the crop, thus a suitable soil application protocol for B fertilization is required for B-deficient soils. In a six-year experiment, different rates of B application, namely, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 kg ha−1 y−1, were evaluated to determine the effects of three different modes of B fertilization, i.e., applied only in the first year, applied in alternating years, and applied every year, in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)–Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping system. It was observed that the application of B at 1.5 kg ha−1 every year or 2 kg ha−1 in alternate years resulted in the highest yield of rice and mustard, as well as the maximum system productivity of the rice–mustard cropping system. Application of 2 kg ha−1 of B in the initial year showed the maximum B uptake by rice, while application of 1.5–2.0 kg ha−1 of B every year resulted in the maximum B uptake by the mustard crop. Application of B at 2 kg ha−1 in alternate years or 1.5 kg ha−1 every year was the best B-application protocol in B-deficient calcareous soils for ensuring the highest productivity of the rice–mustard cropping system and B availability in the soil.

Field-scale assessment of Belgian winter cover crops biomass based on Sentinel-2 data

Winter cover crops, used as green manure, can supply up to 45 units of nitrogen per hectare to the following summer crops. In order to contribute to the establishment of the nitrogen balance sheet for fertilisation recommendation of subsequent main crop at field scale, this supply is currently derived from the biomass production, classically estimated visually using 3 classes: 0–1, 1–3, 3+ tons of dry matter per hectare (Mg DM ha−1). The capabilities of Sentinel-2 satellite data to retrieve an operator-independent winter cover crop biomass have been assessed. Biomass samples were collected in 1 m quadrats for various types of winter cover fields classically used in Belgium (mustard, phacelia, oat and a range of mixed cover), in 2016 and 2017 (yield between 0.1 to 5 tons of dry matter per hectare). Empirical relationships between the winter cover crop biomass and a wide range of vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Sentinel-2 have been defined, and the most performant VI identified. For pure stands of winter cover crops, the cross-validation RMSE (CVRMSE) of the best model is 0.36 Mg DM ha−1 for mustard and 0.3 Mg DM ha−1 for phacelia. The CVRMSE observed for mixed stands, around 0.61 Mg DM ha−1, is roughly two times higher than the CVRMSE observed for pure stands. The added-value of objective satellite-based estimation of winter cover biomass was also assessed by comparing respective estimations with regards to an independent reference dataset made of sample measurements on the ground. Models based on Earth observation showed better results than farmer visual assessment for mustard crops, and were as good as farmers for phacelia crops.

Marketing Efficiency of Different Marketing Channel of Mustard Crop in Swai Madhopur District of Rajasthan

An attempt has been made to study the Comparative Marketing Efficiency of different marketing channel with reference of mustard crop in Swai Madhopur district of Rajasthan. The study was conducted in Chauth Mata Agro Producer Company Limited; Chauth ka Barwada blocks in Swai Madhopur district. For each selected randomly villages, a separate list of mustard growing farmers was prepared and 80 farmers, processor, retailers, wholesaler and consumers were selected. The primary data were collected from the mustard producers and market functionaries through personal interview method with the help of well prepared schedule and questionnaire for the production and post-harvest year for Rabi mustard 2017-18. The market efficiency of FPOs and Non FPOs channel worked out to be 1.23 and 1.09, respectively. Price spread of FPOs and Non FPOs channel work out to be 43.19 and 46.11 percent, respectively. Producer’s share in consumer’s rupee of FPOs and Non FPOs channel out to be 55.86 and 52.71 percent, respectively. The market margin and marketing cost of FPOs channel works out less than the Non FPOs marketing channel. According to finding of this study Farmer Producer Organisations channel were found to be more relevant and profitable for farmers.

Trap Cropping Harlequin Bug: Distance of Separation Influences Female Movement and Oviposition.

To evaluate perimeter trap crops for management of harlequin bug, Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), we undertook greenhouse and field experiments with mustard greens as trap crop for a collard cash crop. We confirmed that harlequin bugs prefer to immigrate to and reside on mustard. Females, however, in greenhouse cage experiments, 'commuted' to collards to lay their eggs. In separate spring and fall field plantings, using replicated 12 m by 12 m collard plots in 1-ha fields, we tested mustard planted as an adjacent perimeter trap crop, or a perimeter trap crop separated by 2 unplanted rows (2.3 m), or with no trap crop. Adults accumulated on the spring mustard crop but overall numbers remained low, with all collards sustaining <1% leaves damaged. In the fall, the separation of 2.3 m reduced oviposition on collards fourfold, and feeding damage approximately 2.5-fold, compared to collards with an adjacent trap crop. Fall control plots with no border trap crop showed even lower foliar damage; likely result of preferential immigration of harlequin bugs to mustard at the field scale, resulting in fewer bugs near the control treatment plots. Thus, the spatial arrangement of the mustard trap crop, and its separation from the cash crop, influences pest abundance and damage. A separated mustard border can reduce bug movement including female commuting and egg-laying, thus better protecting the collard cash crop. Future research should address reduction in area of trap crops, deployment of semiochemicals, and possible changes in timing, to promote trap cropping that is practical for grower implementation.

Response of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and zinc on nutrient concentration, uptake and quality of mustard crop.

A field experiment was conducted on Pot culture house of Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur during the rabi season 2016-17, In the present experiment 8 treatments T1 (Control), T2 (100% RDF), T3 (100% RDF+S30), T4 (100% RDF+Zn5), T5 (125% RDF), T6 (125% RDF+S30), T7 (125% RDF+ S30 +Zn5), T8 (150% RDF), were laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replication. Mustard variety Pusa Bold was taken for study. The results revealed that the nutrient concentration, uptake and quality characteristics of mustard respond significantly with the different treatment combination. The highest nutrient concentration was recorded with T8 (150% RDF), highest nutrient uptake and oil content (43.25%) was obtained in T7 (125% RDF+ S30 +Zn5). The treatment T7 was recorded 22.69 % higher oil content over control treatment.

Spectral Response of Winter Crops Using Multi-temporal Sentinel-2 MSI Data in Visnagar Taluka, Gujarat State

Developing Countries like India has more than half of the population engaged in fishery, agriculture etc. and agriculture drives the economy of the Nation. Traditional survey methods are tedious and time consuming, however, with advancement in Remote Sensing Technology data for Agriculture monitoring can be obtained at local and regional scale. The present study demonstrates the use of multi-year multi-date Sentinel-2 MSI data for winter crop monitoring in in Visnagar taluka Mahesansa district of Gujarat state. Multi-temporal Sentinel-2 data covering study area for the winter crop period from November-2018 to March-2019 was downloaded from https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ .The major objective of this study was to monitor site-specific crop growth in different villages of Visnagar Taluka by generating Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) profiles of major winter crops. The spectral behavior of wheat, mustard, Fennel and castor crops during active growth stages was studied. The results indicated that different winter crops can be discriminated using the data during the early growth phases like flag-leaf emergence to flowering stages of these crops. Even it was observed that the spectral response of normal-sown and late-sown wheat crop have quite distinct spectral behavior as compared to other winter crops. In this study, the NDVI profiles of different winter crops indicated that Last week of January to first week of February, when all the winter crops were at grand growth stages of grain filling and grain-milk, pod formation (mustard & castor) stages have similar NDVI values, therefore during this period major winter crops in this region may not be possible to discriminate using single date satellite data.

Application of geo-spatial technologies in soil suitability assessment for village level crop planning in Chittaurgarh, Rajasthan

The agro-eco-sub region (AESR) 4.2 encompasses Aravalli foot hills, central Rajasthan plains and adjoining areas. Visual interpretation of geo-coded satellite data (IRS-P6, LISS IV MX) on the same scale was done before starting the field work. Based on the interpretative units a high intensity detailed soil survey was carried out in cluster of ten villages of Bhadesar tehsil of Chittaurgarh district on cadastral map (1:4000 scale) and the soils were characterized with respect to landforms. In all, 14 soil series were established and assessed for soil site suitability for maize, wheat, mustard and soybean. Daulatpura-c series soils are suitable for maize, mustard, soybean, and Daulatpura-d soils for soybean and moderately suitable for other crops. Soils of Bagund and Narbadiya-a series are moderately suitable for maize and marginally suitable for other crops. The soils of Bhadsoda-b series are marginally suitable only for mustard but moderately suitable for all other crops. Soils of Parliya series are moderately suitable only for mustard crop and marginally suitable for remaining crops. The soils of Guda series are marginally suitable for maize, wheat, mustard but not suitable for soybean. The soils of Nardhari-a and Nardhari-b are moderately suitable, Daulatpura-b, Bhadsoda-a and Narbadiya-b are marginally suitable whereas soils of Madanpura and Daulatpura are not suitable for all the crops due to limitations of shallow soil depth.

Aqueous Extract of Mustard Crop Residues on Weed Management and Crop Performance of Wheat

Allelopathy is expected to be an important mechanism in the plant invasion process. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of mustard crop residues on weed management and crop performance of wheat. The experiment consisted of three cultivars of wheat viz., BARI Gom 19, BARI Gom 21, BARI Gom 24 and five levels of aqueous extract such as no crop residues (C0), mustard crop residues: chaffed leaves soaked in water in 1:20 ratio (w/v) (C1), 1:30 ratio (w/v) (C2), 1:40 ratio (w/v) (C3), hand weeding (C4). The maximum weed growth was noticed with the cultivar BARI Gom 19 and the minimum was found in the cultivar BARI Gom 21. The grain yield as well as the other yield contributing characters produced by BARI Gom 21was the highest among the studied varieties. The highest percent inhibition of all weed species was caused by hand weeding. The highest numbers of tillers hill-1, numbers of grains spike-1, 1000 grain weight, grain yield and straw yield were observed where hand weeding is done and followed by the application of aqueous extract in 1:20 ratio (w/v). BARI Gom 21 cultivar with all treatments produced the highest grain and straw yield among the treatment combination. The results indicate that different amount of aqueous extract of mustard crop residues showed potential activity to suppress weed growth and it has a significant effect on the yield of wheat. Therefore, mustard crop residues might be used as an alternative way for weed management in effective and sustainable crop production.&#x0D; SAARC J. Agri., 18(2): 17-26 (2020)

Influence of Tillage and Relay Cropping of Berseem in Mustard–Pearl millet System on Soil Quality, Productivity of Crops and Water

In the semi-arid tropics, pearlmillet–mustard (PM–M) is one of the major cropping systems of India. The monocropping of PM–M system has been showing signs of diminutive and decline soil quality, system productivity and profitability from more than two decades. In order to improve the PM-M system productivity and make it profitable through relaying a leguminous fodder crop berseem or Egyptian clover in various tillage and crop seeding (TCS) methods. Relaying berseem (RB) residues provided surface cover in zero-tillage (ZT) system and the needed organic carbon sponge for microbial actions for improvements in soil properties. The shifting of TCS from traditional tilled (TT) to ZT system and RB in standing mustard crop significantly improved soil organic carbon stock, infiltration rate, soil water storage, availability of macro- and micronutrients, biological properties, land use and production efficiency. Improvements in soil properties resulted significantly greater productivity of crops, system and net profit. The TCS with ZT increased the PM–M system productivity by 11% in without RB, while 12% in RB compared with TT system. Results of ZT seeding method saved production cost of PM–M ₹ 8498/ha and had increased net profit ₹ 20,988/ha, whereas those of PM–M in RB saved production cost of ₹ 13,263/ha and increased net profit ₹ 35,538/ha compared with TT, respectively. Among the treatments of TCS, ZT seeding in PM–M cropping system with RB in mustard had greater soil quality parameters, pearl millet equivalent system productivity and net benefits; thus, it is considered the best practice to maintain soil quality, food security and profitability.

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management in Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

An experiment was carried out during the Rabi season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 on the farmer’s field of Village Bisrekhi, Block Ghorawal of Sonbhadra UP, India to evaluate the effect of different combination of integrated nutrient management in Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)]. There were 8 treatments namely; T1–control, T2-100% R.D.F., T3-75% R.D.F. + 5t FYM ha-1, T4-75% R.D.F. + 5t poultry manure ha -1, T5 - 75% R.D.F. + 250 kg gypsum ha-1, T6 -75% R.D.F. + 10t FYM-1, T7 -75% R.D.F. + 10t FYM ha-1+ 5t Poultry manure ha-1 and T8 was 50% R.D.F+10t FYM ha-1+5t Poultry manure ha-1+250 kg gypsum ha-1 which were tested in randomized block design with four replications. The seed yield of mustard was significantly increased due to increase the supply of plant nutrients through organic and inorganic sources of plant nutrients. The highest seed yield of mustard was (18.65 q ha-1 ) recorded when applied of 50% R.D.F. + 10t FYM ha-1+ 5 t poultry manure ha-1 +250 Kg gypsum ha-1 (T8) followed by (18.15 q ha-1) with application of 75% R.D.F. + 10t FYM ha-1+ 5t poultry manure ha-1 (T7), however, minimum seed yield mustard crop (15.35 q ha-1) was noted under control plot (T1). The significantly highest oil yield of mustard crop was (6.79 q ha-1) recorded under the application of 50% R.D.F. +10t FYM ha-1+5t poultry manure ha-1 +250 Kg gypsum ha-1 (T8) followed by (6.37 q ha-1) with application of 75% R.D.F. + 10t FYM ha-1+ 5t poultry manure ha-1 (T7), however, lowest oil yield of mustard crop was (4.76 q ha-1) noted under control plot (T1).

Effects of date of sowing and panting geometry on yield attributes and yield of mustard crop

The present investigation entitled “Effects of date of sowing and panting geometry on yield attributes and yield of mustard crop” was conducted at Instructional Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during rabi season of 2016-2017 and 2017-18. The experiment constituted of nine treatment combinations was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD). Narendra Rye-8501 variety was used. Yield atrributes namely Number of siliquae per plant, Length of siliqua (cm), Number of seeds per siliqua, Test weight (g), Seed yield (kg ha-1), Straw yield (kg ha-1), Biological yield (kg ha-1) and Harvest index (%) were recorded or observed during the whole experiments. Yields and yield attributes was affected by planting geometry. Maximum number of siliquae plant-1 (276.50 in 2016-17 and 282.13 in 2017-18), Maximum length of siliquae (7.83 cm. in 2016-17 and 8.10 cm. in 2017-18), Maximum number of number of seeds siliquae-11 (14.33 in 2016-17 and 14.63 in 2017-18), Higher test weight (4.96 g. in 2016-17 and 4.99 g in 2017-18), Higher Seed yield (kg ha-1) (20.85 in 2016-17 and 23.33 in 2017-18), Higher Straw yield (kg ha-1) (72.92 in 2016-17 and 81.72 in 2017-18), Higher biological yield (93.77 during 2016-17 and 105.05 during 2017-18) and Maximum harvest index (%) (22.56 in 2016-17 and 22.55 in 2017-18) was obtained when crop was sown on 45×15cm planting geometry followed by45×20cm, 45×10cm and 45×25cm planting geometry during the both years. Yield and yields attributes was affected by Date of sowing. Maximum numbers of siliquae Plant-1 (259.75 during 2016-17 and 265.00 during 2017-18), Maximum length of siliqua (7.70 cm.), Maximum numbers of seeds siliqua-1 (14.23), Maximum test weight (4.93 g in 2016-17 and 4.96 g in 2017-18), Seed yield (kg ha-1) was (21.33 in 2016-17 and 22.20 in 2017-18), Maximum Straw yield (kg ha-1) (73.35 during 2016-17 and 76.36 during 2017-18), Maximum Biological yield (94.68 during 2016- 17 and 98.56 during 2017-18) and Maximum Harvest index(%) (22.54 in both years) was recorded with 20 Oct followed by 5 Nov and then 5 Oct date of sowing during both the years.

Low cost groundwater recharge technology for poor quality groundwater areas in Agra and Bharatpur region

A low-cost groundwater recharge structure was designed and developed for Agra-Bharatpur region where groundwater is mainly saline and sodic in nature. The recharge structure comprised of silt basin, filter pit and bore hole of existing shallow tubewell. As bore well of existing tube well was used as recharge shaft, the cost of recharge structure was reduced substantially. The 9 recharge structures were installed at village Odhara in Bharatpur district during 2008–2009. The groundwater recharge helped in dilution of exiting saline groundwater during monsoon season and there was reduction in groundwater salinity upto 3 irrigations of rabi crops. Irrigations by diluted groundwater during initial stages in wheat and mustard crop improved crop yields by 10–15% during all four years of data recording. The depth to groundwater was also monitored during 2008 to 2015. There was rise in water table of the area of 2 m. It indicated improvement in groundwater availability. Thus, low-cost groundwater recharge structure is environmental friendly and cost effective technology for region where groundwater quality and groundwater availability are major issues.

Effectiveness of National Mission on Oilseed and Oil Palm on Adoption of Mustard Crop Interventions

National Mission on Oilseed and Oil palm (NMOOP) for oilseeds &amp; oil palm development program in India was started in July 2014. The present study was conducted in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Bikaner district has been selected purposely because of Bikaner district has highest production of oilseeds (472026 tones) among all districts of the state. Further, two panchayat samities namely Lunkaransar and Khajuwala were selected based on highest area and production of these crops and NMOOP scheme was also operated in these panchayat samities. Two villages from each selected panchayat samiti were selected randomly where NMOOP activities have been in operations in the year 2014-15. From each village 20 beneficiaries and the equal number of non-beneficiary farmers were selected randomly. The findings revealed that majority of beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers belonged to medium adoption category. It was found that there was a significant difference in level of adoption between beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers about recommended interventions of mustard crop.

АДАПТИВНА СИСТЕМА ОСНОВНОГО ОБРОБІТКУ ГРУНТУ ПІД ГІРЧИЦЮ БІЛУ (SINAPIS ALBA)

The research results of influence of the continuous application of the various systems of primary tillage and fertilization on the productivity of mustard white (Sinapis alba) were presented. It was found that the highest yield of white mustard seeds (1.89 t/ha) on the background of N60P60K60 fertilizers was formed under moldboard plowing. Against the background of organic and mineral fertilization (predecessor residues and application of N30P30K30), the highest seed yield (1.90 t/ha) was provided by the moldboard plowing. The use of traditional fertilizer of N60P60K60 for white mustard compared to the combination of crop residues and N30P30K30 fertilizers was economically unprofitable. It is established that against the background of organic and mineral fertilization compared to mineral, the thinning of white mustard crops under minimal nonmoldboard cultivation reached almost 40–50 %. In general, the density of mustard plants on the background of organic and mineral fertilization was 1.5–1.55 mln plants/ha, and on the mineral – 1.65–1.7 mln plants/ha, i.e. on average it was lower by 10 %. Analysis of the economic efficiency of growing white mustard showed that the subsurface tillage on the background of organic and mineral fertilization (predecessor residues and the application of N30P30K30) can be considered as the most promising and adapted to current weather conditions. The profitability of white mustard seed production was 263 %; almost such indicators of profitability were noted under chisel tillage – 259 %. It was found that the introduction of any subsurface tillage for white mustard on the background of organic and mineral fertilization is more profitable. Key words: white mustard, yield, tillage, fertilizers, soil.

Impact on survivality and mortality of Apis mellifera L. brood and workers exposed to thiamethoxam treated mustard

The present study was aimed to find out the possible effect of thiamethoxam on growth, development and behaviour of Apis mellifera. The risk of thiamethoxam to broods and adult worker bees was assessed by exposing the honey bee colonies to thiamethoxam treated mustard crop under semi field (within cage) conditions. Observations regarding broods and adult worker bees mortality, brood emergence were taken at a regular interval. Detailed examination of brood development throughout the study demonstrated that thiamethoxam had a negative impact on brood development and survivability. Delayed developmental period of two to four days was observed in colonies placed on the thiamethoxam treated mustard field.