Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Pantnagar, district Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, to study the effect of nitrogen and sulphur fertilization on yield and nutrientuptake pattern of ‘RGN 73’ Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson]. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 2 factors, viz. Factor A (nitrogen 80, 120, 160 kg/ha) and Factor B (sulphur 0, 20, 40, 60 kg/ha). Each replication comprised 12 treatment combinations of different levels of nitrogen and sulphur and replicated thrice. Application of 120 kg N/ha in combination with 40 kg S/ha resulted in increased siliqua length, higher seeds/siliqua, 1, 000-seed weight and ultimately the seed yield over the control (80 kg N/ha and 0 kg S/ha), but was found at par with 160 kg N/ha and 60 kg S/ha. Increasing the levels of nitrogen up to 160 kg/ha significantly increased the uptake of nitrogen (65.49, 39.68 kg/ha), phosphorus (14.29, 20.56 kg/ha), potassium (19.59, 97.44 kg/ha), sulphur (9.46, 14.07kg/ha) and carbon (2482, 865 kg/ha) during both the years in the seed and stover of the crop compared with the control (80 kg N/ha). Among the different sulphur levels, 60 kg S/ha resulted in achieving significantly higher nutrient uptake in Indian mustard in 2015–16 and 2016–17. The cost of cultivation was found to be 2.10% and 2.17% lower with the combination 120 kg N/ha and 40 kg S/ha compared to 160 kg N/ha and 60 kg S/ha; hence it could be adopted for achieving higher yield levels and nutrient uptake in Indian mustard under Mollisols of Uttarakhand.