Mustard model as an agronomic management tool for oilseed Brassica cultivation in Irrigated plains of Punjab state

Abstract

A dynamic simulation model, “MUSTARD” was calibrated and validated under field conditions to be used as
an agronomic tool to study uncertainties in crop production due to weather variability. Sensitivity analysis for
MUSTARD model was done for cultivar specific five phenological and eight growth coefficients. The model
was calibrated for oilseed Brassica species (B. juncea cv.RL-1359, B. napus cv. PGSH-51 and cv. PAC401) with field observations from 1st date of sowing treatments and then validated for the remaining
treatments. The model simulated the phenological events, i.e., flowering date, first pod date, first seed date
and physiological maturity date for oilseed Brassica species in close agreement with field observations under
different environments. The model simulated the growth (maximum leaf area index) and yield attributes
(seed and biomass yield) for three oilseed Brassica cultivars in closed agreement with the field observations.
The MUSTARD model was employed to simulate the influence of date of sowing on yield. The results
revealed that if mustard crop is planted in the October month after the harvesting of rice crop, the optimum
time for sowing falls in the second fortnight of October. However, if the crop is sown after early potato or
cotton crop, the optimum sowing period is in the first fortnight of November. Further the simulation results
revealed that the potential yield of mustard crop can be attained with a row to row spacing of 30 to 35 cm
with a plant population stand of 33.3 plants / m2
. In view of such sample simulation studies, the overall benefit
of the dynamic simulation model reveals that MUSTARD model can be used as an agronomic management
tool in Punjab state.