Planting density and nitrogen management effects on productivity, quality and water-use-efficiency of Indian mustard under conservation agriculture based pearl millet –mustard system

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during 2016 at the research farm of IARI, New Delhi to study the effect of planting density and nitrogen management protocols on productivity, quality and ware-use-efficiency of Indian mustard under conservation agriculture based pearlmillet – mustard system. The experiment comprised of 3 planting density; normal distance sowing (P1), high density sowing fb alternate row harvesting for fodder at 35 DAS (P2) and high density sowing fb alternate row harvesting for mulch at 35 DAS (P3) in main plots and five treatments of nitrogen management [control (N0), 60 kg N ha-1 as basal (N1), 30 kg N ha-1 as basal + 30 kg N ha-1 as side dressing (N2), 75 kg N ha-1 as basal (N3) and 37.5 kg N ha-1 as basal + 37.5 kg N ha-1 as side dressing (N4)]. Maximum production efficiency (13.54 kg ha-1day-1), net returns (42213 ha-1) and monetary efficiency (338 ha-1day-1) were recorded under P2. Whereas, seed yield (1681 kg ha-1) was founded maximum in P3 treatment. The highest protein yield (326 kg ha-1) and water-use-efficiency (8.26 kg ha-1mm-1) were recorded from treatment P3 and consumptive water use (210.8 mm) and rate of moisture use (1.69 mm day-1) were realized from treatment P2. Among N-management treatments, N4 resulted in the highest seed yield (1893 kg ha-1), production efficiency (15.51kg ha-1day-1), net returns (52371 ha-1) and monetary efficiency (419 ha-1day-1). The same treatment also recorded highest grain protein content (19.70%), protein yield (373 kg ha-1), oil content (38.0%) oil yield (720 kg ha-1), consumptive use of water (211.7 mm) and water-use-efficiency (8.95 kg ha-1mm-1).