Boron regulates growth and morpho physical properties of mustard in no-till farming

Abstract

No-till (NT) or zero tillage (ZT) farming is an emerging cultivation technology which has already been adopted largely for mustard ( Brassica sp.) production. Foremost problem of NT mustard cultivation is low yield; which is the consequences of inadequate or incomplete vegetative and reproductive growth. Among the many factors which determine growth and morpho-physical features of a plant, fertilizer or nutrient management is of utmost importance. Mass growers only apply major essential plant nutrients without considering the minor crucial elements necessary for soil and plant which leads to a higher yield gap and thereby good modern high yielding varieties fail to deliver potential yield. Taking into account the present study aimed to justify the application of boron (B) and its suitable rate on optimum vegetative growth under NT cultivation in mustard for gaining higher yield. The experiment was laid out in a factorial RCB design during the rabi season at BINA Sub-station, Ishurdi, Pabna. Two varieties viz . Binasarisha-9 (V 1 ), BARI Sarisha-17 (V 2 ) and six B doses viz . 0 kg ha -1 (B 0 ), 1 kg ha -1 (B 1 ), 2 kg ha -1 (B 2 ), 3 kg ha -1 (B 3 ), 4 kg ha -1 (B 4 ), 5 kg ha -1 (B 5 ) was used as the treatments. Data on growth (plant height, leaf number, primary and secondary branches) attributes were recorded at 15 days interval starting from 30 DAS (days after seeding) and harvest index (HI) calculated after crop cutting. Findings depicted that, maximum plant height, leaf number, primary and secondary branches were noted with B application between 2 kg ha -1 to 3 kg ha -1 . HI was significantly highest with treatment combination V 1 × B 3 (42.49%). Contrary, under growth and lowest HI (V 2 × B 0 : 29.05%) was spotted with 0 kg ha -1 B usage. In general, appropriate growth and satisfactory HI of the mustard varieties were contingent upon 2 kg ha -1 to 3 kg ha -1 B use.