Mustard

Nutrient Management

Introduction

• Mustard and Taria are short duration crops and they absorb nutrients rapidly.
• According to Anderson (1950) the crop which produces 40 quintal mustard per hectare removes 134kg nitrogen, 52kg Phosphorous, 72kg potash, 18kg Calcium and 6kg magnesium from the soil.
• To fulfill this requirement it is better to test the soil and supply the demand accordingly.
• In mixed cropping the mustard requirement is full filled by the fertilizers applied to main crop.
• In pune mustard crop the use of fertilizers is very necessary.
• Application of 15 to 20 tonnes of well rotten compost or F.Y.M. 30 to 35 days before sowing is beneficial.
• When organic manure is not available green manure can be used or by penning goats or sheeps (2500 to 3000 per ha) in the field will full fill the requirement.
• If after the use of fertilizers it is mixed by hoeing in soil, the fertilizers use efficiency, of plant increase in grain yield.
• In dry forming foliar application of nitrogen gives and results.
• Rapeseed and mustard are grown in Rainfed conditions with nominal or no use of fertilizers.
• Use of fertilizers gives substantial increase in yield.

Quantity and method of fertilizer application in mustards

Variety	N	P	K	Method
Early torai / lahi	30-50	25	-	All Basal
Mustard / sarson (irrigated)	80-150	60	20	Half basal + half top dressing, 30-35 days after sowing
Mustard / sarson (Rainfed)	40-60	25	-	All basal placed

• Application of 10 kgs of Sulphur has given higher seed yield along with higher oil percentage.

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Nitrogen Fertilizer

• Nitrogen is one of the main constituents of protein.
• Nitrogen helps in formation of a large frame on which eventually more flowers and pods develop.
• Sometimes a higher protein content in rapeseed shows a depression in oil content.
• The land being used for cultivation should be soil tested before the application of nitrogenous fertilizer .
• In case of deficiency of nirogen leaves and stems become light green in colour.
• In case of acute shortage the leaves may become chlorotic associated with purple coloration and the older leaves may wither.
• The plants have poor growth with thin and short stems having practically no branches.
• Indian mustard varieties have very short growing season and so need very low amounts of nitrogen.
• Mustard has shown a good response to the application of 100-150 kg N/ha.

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Phosphorous Fertilizer

• Brassica sp. is said to have a very high requirement of phosphorus.
• Phosphorus fertilization improves growth of rapeseed crops.
• Phosphorus reduces the adverse effect of excess nitrogen fertilization.
• Deficiency of phosphorus restricts growth of roots and the aerial parts and at times prevents even flowering.
• The deficiency symptoms are characterized by a dark bluish green colouration of leaves accompanied by purplish tinges.
• The stems become bluish green having purple or reddish coloration.
• Under severe deficiency marginal necrosis of leaves or premature of older leaves may take place.
• Application of phosphorus is more essential in Rainfed conditions.
• Application of phosphorus increases the yield in irrigated conditions.

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Potash Fertilizer

• In oilseed crops potash fertilizers activate a wide range of enzyme systems.
• It controls the regulation of stomatal opening and closing.
• It influences formation of chloroplast.
• Under acute deficiency the leaves show marginal or interveinal chlorosis followed by patches of necrosis
• In acute deficiency the leaf dies completely.

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Nutritional Disorders of Mustard and Rapeseed

• The mustard and rapeseed crops very often show some problems that cannot be identified as any disease.
• The farmer gets confused and treats the crop with the misconception that the crop has caught a disease.
• The nutrients that the mustard and rapeseed crops have often shown deficiency to are iron, manganese, copper, molybednum and sulphur.

Deficiency of Iron

Symptoms

Mustard is very susceptible to iron deficiency. Deficient plants develop chlorosis of young leaves at the four-leaf stage. Chlorosis starts from the base and spreads towards the apical part of the lamina. If severe deficiency persists, leaves become bleached and puckered.

• Newly emerged leaves are completely bleached.
• Flowers show partial loss of pigmentation.
• Flowering, pod number and size of pods is reduced.
• Pods appear chlorotic.

Treatment

• Spray with 0.5% ferrous sulphate solution 3-4 times at weekly intervals.

Deficiency of Manganese :

Symptoms

Apical part of the middle leaves develops chlorosis. The chlorosis later extends towards the base covering the entire intervienal area. The severely chlorotic areas develop small grayish brown spots, which coalesce to form large necrotic lesions.

• Leaf margins also turn necrotic and the laminae turn down wards.
• These symptoms spread to the old and young leaves.
• Flowering is reduced.
• Large percentage of flowers shed prematurely.
• There is poor fruit set and pod formation.

Treatment

• Spray 0.2 - 0.3 % manganese sulphate 2-3 times at weekly intervals.

Deficiency of Copper

Symptoms

Young leaves develop intervienal chlorosis. Chlorotic areas turn papery and necrotic. Growth of the plant is reduced. Inflorescence is very poorly developed. Large percentage of floral buds wither before opening. Pod formation and seed setting are also reduced.

Treatment

• Spray 0.2% copper sulphate solution 2-3 times at weekly intervals.

Deficiency of Molybdenum

Symptoms

Mustard is very susceptible to molybdenum deficiency. Growth is markedly reduced. Plants develop symptoms like cupping, marginal scorching and loss of lamina.

Deficiency of Sulphur

Symptoms

Leaves show paling that starts from margins and spreads inwards. Leaves become yellow and/or develop a purplish pigmentation. The lamina of young leaves curls inwards. The lamina becomes scorched and withered. Flowering is delayed. Symptoms spread from young to middle leaves.

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