Response of Brassica to microenvironment modification under semi-arid agroecosystem

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during winter (rabi) season of 2005–06 and 2006–07 on a Typic Ustocrepts soils at research farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi representing a semi-arid environmental condition, to evaluate the response of Brassica juncea under modified microenvironments. It was revealed that the possibility of increasing the seed yield in mustard cultivars, viz Pusa Jaikisan and BIO169–96 (developed at National Research Centre Plant Biotechnology IARI, New Delhi) was possible. Modification of microenvironment through debranching, i e removal of lower branches at the flowering and pod-filling stages so as to increase the photosynthate flow to the economic parts is found to be promising yet cheaper way. This modified microenvironment has a positive impact on growth and yield in both the years of study. Removal of lower branches at the flowering stage was found to be an alternate practice of microenvironment modification in attaining statistically higher yield.