Response of mustard and wheat to pre-sowing seed treatment with pyridoxine and basal level of calcium

Two field experiments were conducted, one on mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss.) cv. Varuna and another on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. HD 2204 to study the effect of four basal doses of calcium (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha as CaSO₄.2H₂O) along with 0.01 and 0.02% pre-sowing seed soaking treatment with pyridoxine for 4 and 8h for mustard and wheat, respectively. Water-soaked weeds were treated as control. At 70d (flowering) and 90d (fruiting) after sowing, biomass production were recorded. Net assimilation rate (NAR) and absolute growth rate (AGR) of both the crops were calculated for 70–90 days interval. Yield and yield components like pod/plant, seeds/pod, seed yield and oil yield in mustard, and ear/plant, grain/ear, grain yield and carbohydrate yield in wheat were measured at harvest. In general, 0.02% pyridoxine treatment and 40kg Ca/ha for mustard and 20kg Ca/ha for wheat gave maximum value for growth and yield parameters. Ca₄₀ + 0.02% pyridoxine treatment enhanced seed yield by 52.3% in mustard and Ca₂₀ + 0.02% pyridoxine treatment enhanced grain yield by 61.6% in wheat compared to 0 kg Ca and water-soaked control.