Effect of diverse production systems on nutrient content, uptake, soil health and quality of mustard crop (Brassica juncea L.)

Abstract

India is one of the largest producer, consumer and importer of edible oilseeds in the world. The diverse agro-climatic conditions favors cultivation of all primary and secondary sources of oilseeds in India. Indian mustard is one of the most important oilseed crop in India as it contributes maximally in domestic edible oil production. Inclusion of Indian mustard in cereal-based cropping system is increasingly felt due to its beneficial effect in the system and comparatively lesser requirement of resources, hence lesser environmental footprints. An agronomic experiment to study the effect of diverse production systems on nutrient content, uptake, soil health and quality of Indian mustard varieties was conducted in the research farm of Division of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India during rabi season of 2021. The field experiment was laid-out in split-plot design in fixed layout with three replications. The field experiment comprised four main plot treatments (Production systems: Organic Management System (OMS), Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Conventional System (CS) and Conservation Agriculture (CA) and three sub-plot treatments (Mustard varieties-PM 26, PM 28 and PDZ 1). Results revealed that maximum N, P, K and S content and uptake in mustard stover as well as in seed was observed under ICM production system. Observation also recorded for soil health and quality under different production system in which it was found that highest soil organic carbon, available N, available P, available K and soil MBC were observed under ICM production system which was at par with the OMS production system.