Effect of sowing time on growth and yield of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in relation to irrigation practices in central UP

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023-24 at the Agriculture Research Farm, Rama University, Kanpur, to investigate the “Effect of Sowing Time on Growth and Yield of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in Relation to Irrigation Practices in Central UP” in Relation to Irrigation Practices in Central Uttar Pradesh.” The experiment was designed using a randomized block design with three replications and 12 treatments. The treatments included combinations of sowing times and irrigation schedules as follows: T₁ = Early sowing + No irrigation, T₂ = Early sowing + One irrigation (20 DAS), T₃ = Early sowing + Two irrigations (20, 35 DAS), T₄ = Early sowing + Three irrigations (20, 35, 50 DAS), T₅ = Mid/Optimum sowing + No irrigation, T₆ = Mid/Optimum sowing + One irrigation (20 DAS), T₇ = Mid/Optimum sowing + Two irrigations (20, 35 DAS), T₈ = Mid/Optimum sowing + Three irrigations (20, 35, 50 DAS), T₉ = Late sowing + No irrigation, T₁₀ = Late sowing + One irrigation (20 DAS), T₁₁ = Late sowing + Two irrigations (20, 35 DAS), and T₁₂ = Late sowing + Three irrigations (20, 35, 50 DAS). The results indicated that mid-sowing on 15^th November combined with three irrigations at 20, 35, and 50 DAS (T₈) provided the best outcomes in terms of growth, development, yield, and economics of the mustard crop.