Effect of preceding season cultural practices on mustard (Brassica juncea Czern) under semi-arid rainfed conditions of north-west India

Abstract

SUMMARYA field trial was made for 3 years at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi under semi-arid rainfed conditions to study the effect of the preceding season cultural practices on mustard and to assess the possibility of double cropping, and the results are discussed. Preceding season cultural practices, i. e. ploughing in fallow or growing cow pea for fodder or mung for grain (both short-duration crops) increased the yield of the mustard crop compared with no tillage or growing pearl millet in preceding season. Yield of mustard following tillage, fodder cow pea or mung with mulch was similar; hence it is concluded that double cropping is possible under such conditions instead of conventional tillage-mustard, monoeropping practice. It is also concluded that frequent ploughings could be greatly reduced to give few but more effective cultivations, but more research into reducing cultivation during the preceding season should be carried out.