Effect of sowing durations and planting geometries on growth, productivity and quality of garden cress (Lepidium sativum)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2011–12 and 2012–13 on a clay loam soil at Udaipur, Rajasthan, to study the effect of sowing durations and planting geometries on growth, productivity and quality of garden cress or chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.). The treatments comprising 4 sowing durations (41 standard meteorological week 8–14 October, 43th standard meteorological week 22–28 October, 45 standard meteorological week 05–11 November, 47th standard meteorological week 19–25 November) and 4 stand geometries (30 cm × 10 cm, 30 cm ×15 cm, 40 cm × 10 cm, 40 cm × 15 cm) were laid out in factorial randomized block design (RBD). Significantly the highest number of branches (18.8), dry-matter accumulation by plants, crop-growth rate (CGR) (31.2 g/m²/day at 80–100 days after sowing), days to 50% flowering and days to 50% pod formation and seed yield (2.2 t/ha), straw yield (8.7 t/ha) and quality traits were recorded when crops was sown during 43 standard meteorological week. While sowing during 43 and 41 standard meteorological weeks being at par with each other. The highest net returns (75.1×10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (4.4) were also recorded with 43 standard meteorological week. Planting geometries at 30 cm × 10 cm resulted in significantly highest crop-growth rate (CGR) (29.4 g/m²/day at 80–100 DAS), seed yield (2.0 t/ha) straw yield (8.3 t/ha), net returns (68.0 × 10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (4.0) over other planting geometries and remained at par with planting geometry at 40 cm × 10 cm. Therefore, crop sown with 43 standard meteorological week at 30 cm × 10 cm planting geometries for obtaining higher seed yield, quality traits and net returns.