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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp5 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Response of rabi mustard (Brassica juncea L.) to varying irrigation regimes and fertigation schedules under maize-mustard cropping system

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12588
Submitted
4 November 2025
Published
01-07-2026

Abstract

The limited availability of irrigation water and inefficient nutrient use are major constraints affecting mustard (Brassica juncea L.) productivity in India. To enhance yield and resource-use efficiency, a field experiment was conducted at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Jagtial, during rabi seasons of 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22 to study the effect of irrigation regimes and fertigation levels on growth, yield, water productivity and economics of mustard under drip irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three irrigation levels [0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 times the cumulative Class A pan evaporation (Epan)] in the main plots and four fertigation levels (75 %, 100 %, 125 % and 150 % of recommended dose of nitrogen and potassium) in the subplots, replicated thrice. Pooled results indicated that irrigation at 1.2 Epan recorded the highest seed yield (982 kg ha-1), stalk yield (2771 kg ha-1) and gross returns (₹48197 ha-1), whereas the highest water productivity (0.54 kg m-3) was achieved with 0.8 Epan. Among fertigation treatments, 150 % RDN + K significantly enhanced plant height, siliquae plant-1, seeds siliqua-1, seed yield (1040 kg ha-1) and net returns (₹25811 ha-1) compared to 75 % RDN + K. The interaction between irrigation and fertigation was non-significant for most parameters. The above findings highlight that adopting 1.2 Epan irrigation with 150 % RDN + K fertigation can substantially improve mustard productivity and farm profitability under drip systems, making it a viable strategy for farmers facing resource constraints. Additionally, the higher water productivity observed with 0.8 Epan suggests that growers in water-limited regions can optimise water use without severe yield penalties by adjusting irrigation levels appropriately.

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