Selection of Rapeseed-mustard Varieties in Coastal Region of West Bengal: A Way Forward to Rice-fallow Intensification

Abstract

To understand the variation in growth and yield-determining traits of promising rapeseed-mustard cultivars under late sown condition, field experiments were set up during winter of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at Research Farm of BCKV, Kakdwip, West Bengal. The field trial was arranged as a randomized complete block design with eight rapeseed-mustard cultivars, out of which four are BARC-released gamma-mutant genotypes of rapeseed-mustard (TM 106, TM 217, TM 143 and TM 204) and four popular high yielding cultivars (RB50, Pusa Bold, Kranti and B85) replicated thrice. Results revealed that TM 143 produced significantly (p≤0.05) higher number of siliquae than rest others. The maximum number of siliqua from the main fruiting axis was collected from the cv. TM 204; however, it was statistically at par with cv. TM 143 and cv. Pusa Bold. Similarly, the cv. TM 143 produced more number of seeds per siliqua than all other tested cultivars; however, it was statistically at par with cv. TM 204 and cv. TM 217. Cultivars exhibited significant variation in test weight and the highest value was recorded for the cv.TM 143; being at par with cv. TM 204. Finally, the cv. TM 143 proved its superiority over all other tested cultivars by producing significantly (p≤0.05) higher seed yield (1.80 tha^−1) which was statistically at par with cv. TM 204. In addition, the cv. RB-50 produced significantly (p≤0.05) higher stover yield, which was closely followed by cv. TM 204 and cv. TM 217. Hence, adoption of mutant rapeseed-mustard cultivars, namely cv. TM 143, cv. TM 204 and cv. TM 217 particularly under late sown condition will be beneficial for rice-fallow system in coastal Bengal.