SYSTEM OF MUSTARD INTENSIFICATION AS INFLUENCED BY SEEDLING AGES AND FERTILIZER DOSES

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Farm, Dhaka to study the system of mustard intensification (SMI) as influenced by seedling ages and fertilizer doses during the period from October 2019 to February 2020 in Rabi season. The experiment consisted of two factors and followed randomized complete block design with three replications. Factor A: ages of mustard seedling (3) viz; S 1 = 10 days, S 2 = 15 days and S = 20 days and Factor B: different fertilizer doses (4) viz; F 0 = 0% (Control), F 1 3 = 75% of recommended doses of fertilizer, F = 100% of recommended doses of fertilizer F = 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer. Data on different parameters were collected for assessing results of the experiment and showed significant variation in respect of growth, yield and yield contributing characteristics of mustard due to the effect of seedling ages, different fertilizer dose and their Interaction. Among different ages of seedlings, transplanting 10 days old seedling recorded the maximum number of siliqua plant 3 -1 (188.68), length of siliqua (8.94 cm), seeds siliqua -1 (29.67), 1000-seed weight (3.88 g), seed yield (2.08 t ha ), stover yield (3.23 t ha -1 ), biological yield (5.30 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (39.12 %). In the case of different fertilizer doses, application of 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer recorded the maximum number of siliqua plant -1 (203.56), length of siliqua (9.150 cm), number of seeds siliqua -1 (29.67), 1000-seed weight (3.96 g), seed yield (2.17 t ha -1 ), stover yield (3.29 t ha -1 ), biological yield (5.47 t ha -1 ) and harvest index (39.69 %). In case of Interaction effect, the maximum number of siliqua plant

(219.33), length of siliqua (9.51 cm), number of seeds siliqua -1 (32.67), 1000 seeds weight (4.16 g) and seed yield (2.37 t ha -1 ), biological yield (5.72 t ha ) and harvest index (41.46 %) were recorded in 10 days old seedling (S ) along with 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer (F 3 1 ) treated plot. Thus for cultivation of mustard, transplanting 10 days old seedling along with 125% of recommended dose of fertilizer (F

3 ) application performed well towards higher seed production of mustard.