Fatty acids composition of brassicas as affected by nitrogen application

A field experiment was conducted during winter-season of 1993–94 and 1994–95 on sandy loam soils at Hisar to study the effect of nitrogen levels (0, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha) on fatty acids composition in seeds of six improved strains of brassica. Among oilseed brassica, Gobhia sarson [Brassica napus (L)] strain ‘GSH-1’ was superior to Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L) Czernj & Cosson] strains ‘CS-52’, ‘GJM-9056’, ‘Kranti’, ‘RH-30’ and ‘RH-8814’ in respect of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic + eiosenoic except erucic free fatty acids content in seed. On an average, application of nitrogen in brassicas @ 80 kg/ha increased the palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic + eiosenoic and erucic content by a margin of 3.92, 4.67, 3.68, 6.47, 6.30 and 3.65 per cent, respectively compared to no nitrogen under sandy loam soils of semi arid climate.