Effect of in-situ moisture-conservation practices on productivity of rainfed Indian mustard (Brassica juncea)

A field experiment was conducted at Pali-Marwar, Rajasthan, during winter season (rabi) of 1997–98 to 2001–02 to find out the effect of field bunding and deep tillage during preceding rainy (kharif) season and straw mulch on Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson] productivity. Field bunding significantly increased mean mustard seed yield by 14.4% and biological yield by 15.3% over no bunding because of increased availability of soil moisture. Water-use efficiency also increased by 9.7 kg/ha-mm. Deep tillage during monsoon significantly increased the seed yield by 45.5 and 11.1% over pre-monsoon deep tillage in 1999–00 and 2001–02. Straw mulching at 5 tonnes/ha significantly increased mean seed yield by 17.7% over no mulch, with water-use efficiency of 8.3 kg/ha-mm.