International Journal of Plant & Soil Science

A field experimental trial entitled “Effect of Nitrogen and Zinc levels on Yield and Economics of Mustard (Brassica juncea L.)” was undertaken during Rabi season (2021-2022) at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (Allahabad) (U.P.). The size of experimental field is 243m² and soil of experimental field was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.1), low in organic carbon (0.28 %), available Nitrogen (225 kg/ha.), available Phosphorus (19.50 kg/ha.) and available Potassium (213 kg/ha.). The treatments consisted of 3 levels of Nitrogen N₁ (60 kg/ha.), N₂(80 kg/ha.), N₃ (100 kg/ha.) and 3 levels of Zinc Zn₁ (5 kg/ha.),  Zn₂ (10 kg/ha.) and  Zn₃ (15 kg/ha.). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. The results revealed that the application of Nitrogen 100 kg/ha. + Zinc 15 kg/ha. recorded maximum siliqua length (5.20 cm), number of siliquae per plant (398.90), number of seeds per siliqua (24.40), test weight (3.53 g). The economic analysis demonstrates that Nitrogen 100 kg/ha. + Zinc 15 kg/ha. treatment produced higher grain yield (1.89 t/ha.), stover yield (3.11 t/ha.), gross returns (103650.00 INR/ha.), net returns (70264.08 INR/ha.) and B:C ratio (2.10). The major challenges experienced throughout the research work were mostly related to the use of nitrogen and zinc.