Effect of seeding dates and salicylic acid foliar spray on growth, yield, phenology and agrometeorological indices of Brassica species

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Udaipur during the 2011-12 Rabi season to evaluate the effect of
seeding dates and salicylic acid (SA) application on growth attributes, phenology and agrometeorological
indices of Brassica species. The results revealed that crop sown during SMW (Standard Meteorological
Week) 41 recorded significantly higher dry matter accumulation, number of branches plant-1, number of
siliquae plant-1, length of siliqua, seed yield plant-1,1000-seeds weight, intercepted PAR, and IPAR. Amongst
the Brassica species, B. juncea var. Bio-902 proved superior over B. juncea var. RGN-73 and B. rapa
var. BSH-1 in terms of dry matter accumulation, number of branches plant-1, number of siliquae plant-1,
number of seeds siliqua-1, length of siliqua, seed yield plant-1, and 1000-seeds weight. Brassica juncea var.
RGN-73 and B. rapa var. BSH-1 required maximum number of days to attain physiological maturity.
Brassica rapa var. BSH-1 required maximum GDD for opening first flower, and physiological maturity.
Brassica juncea var. Bio-902 recorded higher value of HUE and intercepted more PAR compared to other
species. Number of days taken to attain physiological maturity was significantly higher under 100 ppm SA
foliar spray compared to water spray; 100 ppm SA foliar spray registered significantly higher GDD, higher
HUE on seed yield basis, higher per cent PAR, and IPAR over water spray.