Enhancing mustard productivity through mineral nutrient management in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India, under irrigated conditions of the Bundelkhand region to evaluate
the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on the productivity and profitability of Indian mustard (Brassica
juncea L.). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design comprising sixteen treatment combinations with four NPK
fertility levels as main plots and four sulphur (S), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) combinations with and without farmyard
manure (FYM) enrichment in subplots. The results demonstrated that integrated nutrient management significantly
improved growth, yield attributes, yield, and economic returns. Application of 150% recommended dose of fertilizer
(180:90:90 kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-¹) recorded maximum plant height (216.8 cm), siliquae per plant (149.1), seeds per siliqua
(19.3), seed yield (2886 kg ha-¹), bundle weight (9229 kg ha-¹), net return (Rs. 126,637 ha-¹), and benefit-cost ratio (2.81).
Among secondary and micronutrient treatments, application of 40 kg S + 5 kg Zn + 1 kg B ha-¹ enriched with 500 kg FYM
ha-¹ produced the highest seed yield (2267 kg ha-¹), bundle weight (7233 kg ha-¹), gross return (Rs.134,923 ha-¹), net return
(Rs. 91,987 ha-¹), and benefit-cost ratio (2.10). Principal Component Analysis further revealed a strong positive association
of higher NPK levels integrated with S, Zn, B, and FYM with yield, nutrient uptake, and quality traits. Thus, integrated
application of 150% RDF along with 40 kg S + 5 kg Zn + 1 kg B ha-¹ enriched with 500 kg FYM ha-¹ emerged as the most
effective nutrient management strategy for enhancing productivity and profitability of Indian mustard under irrigated
Bundelkhand conditions.