Nutrient Content and Uptake of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management and Sowing Dates

Abstract

Sowing date is a crucial factor influencing the productivity of Indian mustard in the Gwalior region. Delayed sowing frequently exposes the crop to unfavourable temperature regimes and terminal heat stress during the reproductive phase, which adversely affects crop growth and consequently reduces yield. Therefore, determining an optimum sowing window is essential for attaining improved growth and higher productivity. In this regard, a field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025-26 at the Crop Research Centre, ITM University, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India, on sandy loam soil to assess the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on the productivity and profitability of Indian mustard under different sowing dates. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design comprising three sowing dates as main-plot treatments (D1 - 01/10/2025, D2 - 15/10/2025 and D3 - 30/10/2025) and four nutrient-management practices as sub-plot treatments (N0 - control, N1 - 100% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1, N2 - 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 and N3 - 50% RDF + vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1), with three replications. The findings revealed that mustard sown on 01 October significantly outperformed the delayed sowing treatments by recording higher nutrient content and uptake, along with superior seed yield (23.4 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.4 q ha-1). Among the nutrient-management treatments, the application of 100% RDF along with vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 proved to be the most effective, enhancing nutrient content and uptake and achieving the maximum seed yield (24.3 q ha-1) and stover yield (42.4 q ha-1) compared with the remaining treatments.