EFFECT OF SOWING DATES AND SEED PRIMING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF RAPESEED UNDER RAINFED CONDITION
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AAU, Jorhat
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Effect of sowing dates and seed priming on
growth and yield of rapeseed under rainfed condition” was conducted during rabi,
2020-21 at the PG Experimental Field of the Department of Agronomy, BNCA.
The objectives of the experiment were (i) To find out the effect of sowing dates and
seed priming on growth parameters of rapeseed and (ii) To study the effect of
different treatments on yield and yield attributes of rapeseed. The treatments consisted
of 3 levels of dates of sowing viz., 30th October (D1), 15th November (D2) and 1st
December (D3) and 5 levels of seed priming methods viz., Farmer’s practice (S0),
Water soaked for 10hrs (S1), Potassium chloride (KCl) @ 2% for 10hrs (S2), Sodium
chloride (NaCl) @ 1% for 8hrs (S3) and Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) @
1% for 10hrs (S4) with three replications. The soil of the experimental site was acidic
(pH 4.64), sandy loam in texture, medium in organic carbon content (0.64%), low in
available N (232.06 kg ha-1), P2O5 (21.65kg ha-1) and K2O (113.20 kg ha-1) having a
bulk density of 1.42 (g cm-3).
The results revealed that sowing of the crop at different dates and different
seed priming techniques had significant effect on most of the growth and yield
attributes viz., emergence percentage, plant height, stem dry weight, leaf dry weight,
reproductive dry weight, total dry weight, leaf per plant, leaf area per plant, LAI,
CGR, RGR, number of primary branches per plant, total chlorophyll content,
plant population, siliqua per plant, seeds per siliqua, seed yield per plant, seed yield,
stover yield and HI. There was significant increase in the plant height, dry
matter accumulation, no. of leaves, leaf area, LAI, CGR, RGR from 30DAS to
harvest. However, dates of sowing did not show any significant effect on RGR at
60DAS. Moreover, both dates of sowing and seed priming did not show any significant
effect on test weight. Among the different dates of sowing the crops sown
on 15th
November recorded the highest seed yield and harvest index (8.93 q ha-1 and
44.03 %respectively) which was statistically superior over the crop sown on 1st
December.
Similarly, among the seed priming methods the crops primed with KCl 2% for 10hrs
showed highest seed yield (9.96 q ha-1) and harvest index (44.49 %). The highest gross
return (Rs 40,188 /ha), net return (Rs 20,210 /ha) and B:C ratio (2.01) was recorded
from the crop sown on 15th November (D2). Different seed priming methods recorded
significantly higher values for KCl @ 2% for 10 hrs priming (S2) with highest gross
return (Rs 44,830 /ha), net return (Rs 24,835/ha) and B:C ratio (2.24). Interaction
between sowing dates and seed priming showed significant differences in the economic
parameters. 15th November sowing with KCl @ 2% for 10 hrs priming (D2S2)
resulted in highest gross return (Rs 53,310 /ha), net return (Rs 33,315/ha) and B:C ratio
(2.67).
From the findings of the present experiment, it can be concluded that sowing
of rapeseed on 15th November and seed priming with KCl @ 2% for 10 hrs can be
suggested for higher productivity of the crop and better profitability to the farmers.