Response of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) to varying spacing and transplanting in north Gujarat region

A field experiment was conducted at Castor Mustard Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat during the winter (rabi) season of 2020–21, to study the response of Indian mustard [Brassicajuncea (L.) Czernj.] to different spacing and transplanting schedule in north Gujarat. The experiment was conducted in a split-plot design with 4 spacing in the main plots and 3 transplanting dates in the subplots, that were replicated 3 times. The maximum plant height at harvesting (189.18 cm) and crop-growth rate (11.69 g/plant/day) at 30–60 days after transplanting (DAT) were recorded with narrow spacing of 45 cm x 30 cm and higher dry-matter accumulation at 30 and 60 DAT (11.57 and 71.70 g/plant respectively) were recorded at 60 cm x 45 cm spacing. Indian mustard transplanted at 45 cm x 30 cm spacing recorded significantly higher seed yield (2,187.1 kg/ha), being statistically at par with spacing 45 cm x 45 cm spacing (2,070.4 kg/ha). In terms of seed yield, the crop transplanted on 10 November (2,142.7 kg/ha) outperformed the crop transplanted on 20 November (1,829.0 kg/ha), but it was statistically on a par with the crop transplanted on 31 October (1,996 kg/ha). The higher net returns (₹61,227/ha), production efficiency (19.59 kg/ha/day) and economic efficiency (₹548.5/ha/day) were registered at 45 cm x 30 cm spacing. Significantly higher net return realization (₹63,596/ha), production efficiency (19.13 kg/ha/day) and economic efficiency (₹567.8/ha/day) were noted under 10 November transplanting.