Plant Nutrient Management

• OM to improve soil structure, moisture retention capacity and supply nutrients
• FYM @ 15-20 t/ha
• N response: 3-8 kg grain/kg applied N @60 kg/ha
• In coarser soil: S @ 20-50 kg/ha suggested.
• S improve oil content significantly, however, higher rate of S also increases the anti-nutritional factors (glucosinolates) as well.
• Rainfed: 30-40:20-30:15-20 kg NPK/ha.
• Irrigated: 90-100:50-60:15-20 kg NPK/ha.
• ½ N + full P and K as basal dose and ½ N at time of 1st irrigation.
• In Nepal, 6 t/ha FYM and 60:40:20 kg NPK/ha.

Irrigation management

• Grown as rainfed post-monsoon crop.
• Flowering and pod filling stages are critical
• 1-4 irrigations: Pre-sowing, peak flowering and pod filling stages
• Sufficient OM improves moisture retention
• Mulching checks evaporation losses

Interculture

• Weeds cause 20-70% loss.
• Major weeds include Chenopodium album, Lathyrus sp, Melilotus alba, Cyperus sp, Cersium arvense, Fumaria palviflora
• Alachlor, Fluchloralin, Nitrofen, Pendimethalin @1-1.5 kg a.i./ha as pre-emergence and Trifluralin @ 1 kg a.i./ha as pre-plant herbicide.
• Application of glyphosate as pre-plant spray.

Harvesting and Threshing

• Plants are ready to harvest at 60-120 DAS.
• Harvest indices: Stem and pods yellow, Dark seeds, Seeds rattle in pods, Moisture content in seeds around 15%.
• Delay harvesting causes shattering
• Manual harvest by cutting or uprooting
• Manual threshing by beating with sticks or trampling by bullocks
• Winnowing and drying to 7-8% moisture
• Store in clean, dry metallic bins in dry and cool places.

Yield

• 6 t/ha.
• Potential yield: 1.4-2 t/ha (rapeseed) and 2-2.5 t/ha (mustard).