Indian Journal of Agronomy

A field experiment was conducted on sandy loam soils during two consecutive winter seasons (rabi) of 2014–15 and 2015–16 at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to evaluate the effect of irrigation scheduling, planting methods and mulching on growth, root characteristics, yield and yield attributes and consumptive use of water (CUW) of yellow sarson (Brassica rapa L. var. yellow sarson) in sandy loam soil. Number of branches/plant, relative leaf water content (RLWC), root dry weight, root density, yield attributing characters, seed and stover yields, were influenced significantly due to irrigation levels, being the maximum at 1.2 IW: CPE ratio followed by 0.9 IW: CPE ratio. The maximum number of branches/plant, root dry weight, root density, RLWC, yield attributing characters and seed and stover yields were found with raised-bed planting compared to flat-bed planting. Yellow sarson sown with mulch produced significantly higher values of growth, root dry weight, root density and yield-attributing characters, seed and stover yields and CUW than no-mulch treatment.