Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2011–12 to study the influence of sowing time and irrigation schedule on seed yield, oil yield and water use of raya cultivars. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, keeping combinations of three dates of sowing (Oct. 30, Nov. 15 and Nov. 30) and two cultivars (RLC 1 and RLM 619) in main plots and four irrigation schedules (40, 60, 80 CPE and two irrigations at four weeks after sowing and at flowering) in sub-plots with three replications. Raya sown on October 30 recorded significantly higher primary and secondary branches than November 15 and November 30 sown crops. The yield attributes, seed and oil yield were also significantly higher in October 30 sown crop than November 15 and November 30. Similar trends were observed for water use and water use efficiency (WUE). Both the cultivars did not differ significantly for yield attributes and seed yield. However, cultivar RLM 619 recorded significantly higher oil content and oil yield than cultivar RLC 1. Crop raised with irrigation scheduling at 40 CPE produced maximum secondary branches which were at par with 60 CPE, but significantly higher than 80 CPE and two irrigation schedules. Similarly, yield attributes, seed and oil yield were the highest with irrigation scheduling at 40 CPE, which were at par with 60 CPE but significantly higher than 80 CPE and two irrigations. Water use was higher with irrigation scheduling at 40 CPE which decreased with increase in CPE, while reverse was true for WUE.