Effect of Different Planting Geometry on Growth and Dry Matter Production of Mustard Varieties (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss) under Late Sown Condition

The experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Faizabad (Uttar Pradesh) during the Rabi season of 1999–2000 in RBD and replicated three times. The basic information, on the physico-chemical properties of the soil indicated that the soil of the experimental field was classified as silty loam which was low in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, medium in potassium and sulphur and deficient in zinc. The treatments were comprised of two levels of row and plant spacing of planting geometry (30 cm, 45 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm) and three varieties NDR 8501, Vardan and NDRE-4. Variety NDR 8501, with planting geometry of 30 cm row and 10 cm plant spacing produced significantly higher plant height but primary and secondary branches plant⁻¹, number of leaves plant⁻¹, leaf area index, dry matte accumulation plant⁻¹ at 45 cm row and 15 cm plant spacing. The maximum dry matte accumulationplant^{1 was recorded with treatment combination Variety NDR-8501, with planting geometry of row 45 cm and 15 cm plant spacing. Thus the variety NDR-8501 proved most suitable variety of mustard for higher productivity under spacing 45 cm row and 15 cm plant spacing.}