Influence of preceding season practices and direct application of fertilizer on growth, yield, oil content and oil production of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy and winter seasons of 2001–2002 and 2002–2003 at the farm of Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The results revealed that fertilization of maize (Zea mays L), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and urbean (Phaseolus mungo L.) increased the seed or grain yield of these crops by 31, 54 and 38% respectively. The fertilizer application to preceding crops also significantly improved growth parameters, yield attributes and seed and oil yields of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson]. The direct application of N and P to Indian mustard also enhanced the growth and seed and oil yields. On an average, 46, 28 and 11% increase in seed yield was recorded owing to 80 kg N + 40 kg P₂O₅ over the control, 40 kg P₂O₅ and 40 kg N + 40 kg P₂O₅ respectively. However, oil content of Indian mustard decreased significantly due to fertilization of preceding crops and direct application of N and P to mustard crop.