Evaluation of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Economics of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) under Semi-arid Conditions of Bundelkhand Region

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2020–21 at the Research Farm of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management practices on the growth, yield attributes, productivity, and economic returns of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with three replications and nine nutrient management treatments, namely T₁: RDF, T₂: 50% RDF, T₃: 75% RDF + vermicompost (VC), T₄: RDF + B, T₅: RDF + Zn, T₆: RDF + Fe, T₇: RDF + Zn + B + Fe + Mn, T₈: RDF + bioregulator (BR), and T₉: RDF + Mn + BR. The recommended fertiliser dose (RDF) comprised 80 kg N, 40 kg P₂O₅, 40 kg K₂O, and 20 kg S ha⁻¹. The results showed that the nutrient management treatments significantly influenced the growth, yield attributes, and yield of Indian mustard. Treatment T₃ (75% RDF + VC at 5 t ha⁻¹) recorded the greatest plant height (201.0 cm), numbers of primary branches (7.0 plant⁻¹) and secondary branches (16.0 plant⁻¹), number of siliquae (213 plant⁻¹), and number of seeds per siliqua (18.43). The same treatment also produced the maximum seed yield (1877 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (5130 kg ha⁻¹), and biological yield (7007 kg ha⁻¹), which were significantly higher than those of most other treatments. The harvest index did not differ significantly among the treatments. The economic analysis indicated that T₃ generated the highest gross return (₹102,670.5 ha⁻¹), net return (₹72,988.5 ha⁻¹), and benefit–cost ratio (2.46). By contrast, the lowest seed yield and economic returns were recorded under T₈ (RDF + BR) and T₉ (RDF + Mn + BR). The improved performance of T₃ may be associated with the combined effects of vermicompost and inorganic fertilisers on nutrient availability, soil biological activity, and nutrient-use efficiency. Under the conditions of this experiment, the integrated application of 75% RDF with vermicompost at 5 t ha⁻¹ was the most effective nutrient management treatment for improving the growth, yield attributes, seed yield, and profitability of Indian mustard in the semi-arid Bundelkhand region.