Effect of potassium and boron on yield and economics of mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P) during Rabi, 2023. The treatments consisted of three levels Potassium levels (20 kg/ha, 30 kg/ha, and 40 kg/ha) and boron (1 kg/ha, 1.5 kg/ha and 2 kg/ha). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. The treatments which are T1: Potassium 20 kg/ha + Boron 1 kg/ha, T2: Potassium 20 kg/ha + Boron 1.5 kg/ha, T3: Potassium 20 kg/ha + Boron 2 kg/ha, T4: Potassium 30 kg/ha + Boron 1 kg/ha, T5: Potassium 30 kg/ha + Boron 1.5 kg/ha, T6: Potassium 30 kg/ha + Boron 2 kg/ha, T7: Potassium 40 kg/ha + Boron 1 kg/ha, T8: Potassium 40 kg/ha + Boron 1.5 kg/ha, T9: Potassium 40 kg/ha + Boron 2 kg/ha, T10: Control (80:40:40) NPK kg/ha. Application of Potassium 40 kg/ha along with Boron 2 kg/ha (treatment 9) recorded significantly higher plant height (184.44 cm), maximum number of branches/plant (14.8), higher plant dry weight (24.01 g), maximum number of siliqua/plant (125.75), maximum number of seeds/silique (15.13), higher test weight (3.41 g), higher seed yield (2135.15 kg/ha), higher stover yield (4043.38 kg/ha) and highest harvest index (35.76%). The maximum Gross returns (136795.99 INR/ha), Net return (97295.99 INR/ha) and B:C (2.46) were also recorded with application of Potassium 40 kg/ha along with Boron 2 kg/ha (treatment 9) was found to be productive as well as economically feasible.