A Sustainable Approach to Improve the Mustard (Brassica juncea) Yield and Quality Parameters by Bees Visitation in the Regions of Punjab-India

Abstract

Background: Mustard is an oil seed crop and most oilseed crops are cross pollinated. A substantial increase in seed production requires adequate pollination. Rapeseed and mustard are both self-pollinated and cross-pollinated plants. Brown sarson is a cross pollinated crop whose seed production is reliant on honeybees and wild insect pollinators. Methods: All parameters were carefully monitored during 2019-2021 crop growing year. Mustard blooming crop was visited by 12 insect species from 4 orders and 7 families. Hymenopterans were the most common visitors followed by others. Temperature and sunshine increased honeybee foraging, while relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall declined the same. Result: In this present investigation, amongst the various attractant used for attracting pollinators jaggery solution 10 per cent and sugar solution 10 per cent were found superior to attract the maximum number of bees on crop and recorded highest yield and more oil and protein content in the seeds as compared to other treatments.