Effects of Irrigation Scheduling and Foliar Application of Phosphorus, Sulphur, and Boron on the Growth Characteristics of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

During the two successive Rabi seasons of 2023 and 2024, a field experiment was carried out at the Students Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (U.P.). to evaluate the effects of irrigation scheduling and foliar application of phosphorus, sulphur, and boron on Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The trial was arranged in a split plot design with three replications, assigning irrigation levels to main plots and nutrient management practices to sub-plots. Irrigation treatments included: I1 (no irrigation), I2 (one irrigation at pre-flowering), and I3 (two irrigations at pre-flowering and siliqua development). Nutrient treatments consisted of T1 (RDF 120:60:40 NPK), T2 (RDF + foliar sulphur 2%), T3 (RDF + foliar boron 0.2%), T4 (RDF + foliar sulphur + boron), and T5 (RDF + foliar sulphur + boron + nano phosphorus 0.5% applied at 30 and 45 DAS). Mustard variety Azad Mahak was sown on November 2nd, 2023, and November 4th, 2024, with harvests on March 26th, 2024, and March 29th, 2025. Recorded growth parameters showed that higher plant height, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, branches per plant, days to 50% flowering, and maturity were achieved under I3 irrigation and T5 nutrient management.