Effect of Calcium and Boron on Growth and Yield of Mustard in Inceptisol

Abstract

Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an important oilseed crop in India, but its productivity is often constrained by deficiencies of secondary and micronutrients, particularly calcium and boron. Calcium plays a vital role in cell division, membrane stability, and plant growth, while boron is essential for reproductive development and seed formation. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2019–20 at the Research Farm of Udai Pratap (Autonomous) College, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on an Inceptisol under Indo-Gangetic alluvial conditions. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with six treatments and three replications, involving the application of recommended dose of fertilizers (NPK) alone and in combination with different levels of calcium (5 and 10 kg ha⁻¹) and boron (1 and 2 kg ha⁻¹). Mustard (Brassica juncea L. var. Varuna) was grown at a spacing of 45 cm × 15 cm, and standard agronomic practices were followed to evaluate growth, yield, and nutrient uptake responses. The results indicate that the application of 10 kg Ca & 2 kg boron dose recorded maximum yield - attributes. The maximum seed yield was 11.75 q/ha, total uptake by seed and stover of N (36.88 & 12.20 kg/ha), P (8.73 & 8.18 kg/ha), K (12.49 & 41.70 kg/ha), Ca (9.51 &13.61 kg/ha) and B (193.22 & 349.17 kg/ha), respectively. The study concludes that calcium and boron application, especially at 10 kg Ca ha⁻¹ and 2 kg B ha⁻¹, improves growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in mustard, indicating their importance for better productivity under Inceptisol conditions.