Effect of Direction of Sowing and Crop Phenotype on Radiation Interception, Use Efficiency, Growth and Productivity of Mustard (Brassica juncea L)

Abstract

he mustard crop is commercially grown in the North Western drier tract of India. Different directions of sowing and crop phenotypes grown in the field create various planting geometry in combination which differ in yield and oil productivity. The planting geometry affects the radiation use efficiency (RUE), intercepted photosynthetic active radiation (IPAR) and thereby the biomass and yield. Two different mustard varieties (erect and spreading types) were grown in two sowing directions (North-South and East-West) along with one replication as broadcast during the rabi 2004-05. The seasonal cumulated IPAR was significantly higher in East-West oriented plots than North-South in both the varieties, whereas, RUE depended on the crop phenotype. The differences in yield between the two varieties were highly significant at 5% level with the spreading type yielding more. Direction wise, orientation in the East-West yielded more than in North-South. The difference in oil productivity was non-significant for different directions for spreading type variety. The East-West sown plots showed higher oil productivity than North-South sown plots for erect type variety.