Effect of boron on yield attributes, seed yield and oil content of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) on an Inceptisol

A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during two consecutive rabi season of 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 to study the effect of boron (B) on growth, yield and quality of mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment comprised of 11 B levels i.e., 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.50, 2.75 and 3.0 kg B ha⁻¹. The results revealed that the highest number of siliqua plant⁻¹ (242 and 245), length of siliqua (5.3 and 5.4 cm), number of seeds siliqua⁻¹ (16.3 and 16.2), seed yield (1.89 and 2.02 t ha⁻¹), oil content (35.5 and 36%) were recorded where 1.5 kg B ha⁻¹ was applied, while maximum protein content (22.2 and 21.9%) was noticed with application of 1.75 kg B ha⁻¹ during 2012–13 and 2013–14, respectively. Application of 1.5 kg B ha⁻¹ gave average increase in seed yield of 36% and oil yield of 52%. It also increased the uptake of B by seed and stover significantly over control.