Effect of soil and foliar application of zinc on seed yield of mustard, Brassica juncea (L) Czernj and Cosson in Typic Ustochrept soil of Hisar, Haryana

In a field experiment on Typic Ustochrept the individual effect of zinc sulphate (0, 12.5, 25.0 and 37.5 kg/ha) as soil application and 0.5 per cent zinc sulphate solution sprayed at 45 and 55 days after sowing (DAS) was studied under dryland farm conditions on mustard at afixed siteat the farm of AICRP for Dryland Agriculture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana during five consecutive Rabi seasons. It was found that application of varying doses of zinc sulphate as soil application had significant effect on seed yield of mustard over control in all the five years. It increased the average seed yield from 13.3 to 17.5 q/ha which accounted for 32 per cent increase over control. The seed yield of mustard was also influenced significantly by foliar application (0.5% ZnSO₄ solution) with corresponding average yield response of 4.7 q/ha which accounted for 35 per cent. Results revealed the superiority of foliar application of zinc over soil application under dryland farm conditions.