Influence of time of sowing on yield and yield atiributes of niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.) under rainfed situation of Assam

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2005–2006 at The Instructional-cum-Research Farm of Assam Agricultural University (MU), Jorhat, Assam. Four different sowing times, viz. 15^th November (D₁), 30^th November (D₂), 15^th December (D₃) and 30^th December (D₄) were used to evaluate the influence of time of sowing on yield and yield attributes of rabi niger crop under rainfed situation. The growth and yield attributing character like plant height, number of branches/plant, number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitulum and l000-seed weight decrease significantly due to delay in sowing time of the crop. Uptake of N, P and K were statistically significant with niger crop sown on 15^th November (D₁ The seed and stover yield of niger decrease significantly for every 15 days delay in sowing of niger crop from 15^th November (D₁) to 30^th December (D₄).