Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ENHANCEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY OF INDIAN MUSTARD (BRASSICA JUNCEA L.) BY FOLIAR SPRAY OF THIOUREA AND THIOGLYCOLLIC ACID UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION LEVELS

Rajesh Kumar, R.S. Meena and R. Meena

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2008 and 2009 to enhancement the productivity of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by foliar spray of thiourea and thioglycollic acid under different availability of irrigation water. The experiment comprised three water application regime and nine bio-regulators application treatments. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with four replications. Results showed that application of sufficient irrigation water was recorded higher chlorophyll content, dry matter accumulation, number 1000- seed weight and yield as compared to all other water application treatments. An increase in seed yield of 92.40 and 39.37 % under sufficient irrigation and limited water condition in 2008 and 93.34 and 40.31 % in 2009, respectively over deficient conditions. Foliar spray of 100 ppm thioglycollic acid recorded higher value chlorophyll content, dry matter accumulation, number 1000- seed weight and yields. Similarly 500 ppm of thiourea also gave second best highest yields. Spray at initiation of branching and flowering stages of thioglycollic acid 100 ppm produced significantly higher grain, stover and biological yields than other treatments. The results suggested that application of bio-regulators enhance yield and water productivity of mustard under arid environment.