Enhancing fertilizer use efficiency of Rabi mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by varying levels of fertilizers and bio-stimulants

A field experiment was carried out during the rabi season of 2023-24 at Instructional Farm, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, College of Agriculture, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri, Maharashtra on to study the Enhancing fertilizer use efficiency of rabi mustard (Brassica juncea L.) by varying levels of fertilizer and bio-stimulants. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with replicated thrice. The main plot consisted of three levels of fertilizer: F₁ - Absolute control, F₂ - 75% RDF and F₃ - 100 RDF, the sub-plot consisted of five levels of bio-stimulants: B₁ - Chitosan @100 ppm, B₂ - Chitosan @ 200 ppm, B₃ - Seaweed Extract @ 100 ppm, B₄ - Seaweed Extract @ 200 ppm and B₅ - Water spray. The result was obtained that, the different fertilizer levels i.e. F₃ (100% RDF) and bio-stimulant i.e. B₂ (Chitosan @200 ppm) recorded significantly higher growth attributes viz., plant height, number of branches plant^-1, dry matter production plant^-1 and yield attributes viz., seed and oil yield,and straw yield (kg ha^-1) in Mustard.