Abstract

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2013 under irrigated condition at Varanasi to study the effect of fertility levels and cow urine application on growth and N, P, K content of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss]. Application of 100% fertility level and 900 litre cow urine significantly increased the dry matter accumulation, physiological growth and N, P, K uptake of mustard in comparison to 50% RDF and control, respectively. Application of 100% RDF produced 12.1 and 31.2% higher seed yield than 75 and 50% RDF, respectively. Regarding the urine application, the increasing levels of urine application up to 900 l cow urine/ha enhanced the yield attributes as well as seed and stover yield. The investigation clearly indicated that under irrigated ecosystem of Varanasi no reduction in the recommended fertilizer dose to mustard was possible. Increasing levels of cow urine application up to 900 l/ha as basal dose markedly improved growth parameters, yield attributes as well assessed and stover yield and nutrient uptake of mustard. Fertilizer application at 120 kg N+60 kg P2O5+60 kg K2O+40 kg S/ha and 900 l cow urine/ha produced maximum yield and proved most remunerative.