Response of Brassica juncea to chlorocholine chloride and ethrel sprays in association with nitrogen application

Abstract

SUMMARYField studies conducted in 1983/84–1985/86 at Ludhiana showed that the response of physiological and yield characters of Brassica juncea to foliar sprays of chlorocholine chloride as cycocel (CCC) at 250 and 500 p.p.m. and ethrel at 500, 1000 and 1500 p.p.m. differed at different doses of N (O, 50 and 100 kg/ha). The crop did not respond to CCC or ethrel in the absence of N, whereas a significant response was obtained with 250 p.p.m. CCC or 500 p.p.m. ethrel at 50 kg N/ha and 500 p.p.m. CCC or 1000 p.p.m. ethrel at 100 kg N/ha. Response to increasing doses of N increased in the presence of CCC or ethrel spray. The highest concentration of ethrel (1500 p.p.m.) proved detrimental at 0 and N/ha. CCC and ethrel reduced the crop canopy, enhanced the chlorophyll content of leaves, interception of photosynthetically active radiation and sink capacity (number of pods per plant and 1000-seed weight) at 50 and 100 kg N/ha. A higher leaf area index was obtained during the pod development phase with CCC and ethrel sprays. The oil content and germination potential of seeds from crops treated with CCC (250 and 500 p.p.m.) and ethrel (500 and 1000 p.p.m.) were as high as in the untreated crop, irrespective of N dose. However, 1500 p.p.m. of ethrel sprayed on a crop raised without N suppressed germination capacity.