Impact of integrated nutrient management on growth yield and quality of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Introduction

Among oilseeds, mustard (rai) holds special importance. It accounts for nearly 70% of the rapeseed-mustard area, making India the world's leading producer with 27.5% of the global area and 20% of global output (Vanukuri & Pandey, 2022) [15] . Yet, the country's average yield (~900 kg/ha) lags behind the global average of 1408 kg/ha (Patel, 2024) [12] . Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal are the major producing states. Mustard contributes about 25% of India's total oilseed production, with 6.86 million hectares under cultivation, producing 9.12 million tonnes at an average yield of 1331 kg/ha. Rajasthan alone produces nearly half of this output. Mustard seeds contain 36-48% oil, widely used in cooking, food preservation, and also in industries for soap, lubrication, and biofuel. The residual oil cake serves as cattle feed and fertilizer, while mustard greens are consumed as vegetables, adding nutritional value. Botanically, mustard (Brassica juncea L.) belongs to the family Brassicaceae, is an annual, selfpollinated amphidiploid species with 2n = 4x = 36 chromosomes (Nagaharu, 1935) [9] . Rich in bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates, flavonoids, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and minerals (Kim et al., 2007) [5] , mustard is valued for both its culinary and medicinal applications. Traditionally, its leaves and oils have been used as stimulants, diuretics, and expectorants. Fermented mustard products also exhibit potential health benefits (Lee et al., 2010) [7] . The crop has been cultivated across Eurasia for centuries, thriving in subtropical and temperate regions, with its primary origin traced to Central Asia, particularly northwestern and eastern India, and extending into China, Myanmar, Iran, and the Near East (Miceli et al., 2014) [8] . As of 2022-23, mustard occupied about 7.14 million hectares in India, producing 10.95 million tonnes of seeds (DES, 2023) [2] . Rajasthan was the leading state in both acreage and output, followed by Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh alone, mustard covered 1.16 lakh hectares, yielding 2.73 million tonnes with an average productivity of 1607.85 kg/ha. Mustard cultivars vary in flavour and pungency, largely influenced by seed type, processing techniques, and additives. The leaves are particularly rich in chlorophyll, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, potassium, and calcium. The seeds are also nutrient-dense, containing proteins, carbohydrates, fats, dietary fibre, and vitamins (especially C and K), along with essential minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and magnesium, as well as electrolytes like sodium and potassium (Campbell et al., 2012; Jaiswal et al., 2012) [1,3] . Deficiencies of key nutrients, particularly micronutrients such as sulphur, pose a significant limitation to mustard production, often resulting in weak plant growth, poor seed set, and reduced oil content. Sulphur is indispensable for enzyme activation, protein synthesis, and growth regulation, making its adequate supply critical for achieving optimum yields. However, the exclusive reliance on chemical fertilizers in Indian agriculture has accelerated sulphur depletion and contributed to the deterioration of soil structure. In this context, vermicompost, a biologically active organic amendment, offers a sustainable means of improving soil fertility by stimulating microbial activity, enhancing moisture retention, and increasing the availability of nutrients, including sulphur and other micronutrients. The integration of sulphur fertilization with vermicompost application may provide a synergistic effect, simultaneously improving crop productivity and restoring soil health. Such a strategy ensures balanced nutrient supply, reduces dependence on synthetic inputs, and promotes sustainable production practices. Given mustard's importance as a major oilseed crop with high nutritional and economic significance, it becomes essential to evaluate the combined impact of varying sulphur doses and vermicompost application. Identifying the most effective nutrient combinations will not only enhance mustard yield but also safeguard soil fertility, thereby contributing to eco-friendly agriculture and long-term food security.

Materials and Methods

The present investigation was carried out at the Research Farm of Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, United University, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, during the Rabi seasons of 2024-25. United University, situated at Rawatpur, Jhalwar in Prayagraj, holds a strategically significant location with seamless connectivity to the city and nearby regions, thereby ensuring convenient accessibility for academic and research activities. Prayagraj is situated within the Central Plain sub-zone of Agro-climatic Zone V of Uttar Pradesh, as classified by the Department of Land Development and Water Resources, Government of Uttar Pradesh. The experimental field is geographically positioned between 20°33' to 21°50' N latitude and 73°27'' to 73°56'' E longitude. The area experiences a tropical climate, characterized by scorching summers, moderately cold winters, and a humid, warm monsoon season. The region receives substantial rainfall, primarily from June to September, with the majority of precipitation occurring during the southwest monsoon, particularly in July and August. The treatments consisted of T 1 (Control); T 2 (100% RDF); T 3 (75% RDF + @ 2.5 t/ha VC); T 4 (75% RDF + @ 5 t/ha FYM); T 5 (100% RDF + 25 Kg/ha S); T 6 (50% RDF + 25 Kg/ha S); T 7 (75% RDF + 25 Kg/ha S) and T 8 (100% RDF + VC 2.5 t/ha + 5 t/ha FYM + 25 kg/ha S). Five randomly selected plants were measured for height from the ground to the top of the plant at maturity. Plant height was measured from the ground level to the tip of the shoot at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing (DAS) using a 100 cm meter scale. Five plants were randomly selected from each plot, and the mean value of each replication was recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. Dry matter accumulation was assessed at 30, 60, and 90 DAS. At each stage, five plants were randomly sampled from the net plot area, thoroughly washed, and separated into roots, stems, leaves, and reproductive parts wherever applicable. The samples were sundried for 2-3 days, followed by oven-drying at 65 ± 2 °C until a constant weight was achieved. The dry weight of each plant part was recorded, summed to obtain total dry matter per plant, and expressed as grams per plant. These values were subsequently converted to kilograms per hectare for analysis. From the samples collected for dry matter estimation, leaves of five plants were observed at 30, 60, and 90 DAS, and leaf area was measured with the help of a leaf area meter (LA-3100). After recording the leaf area, these leaves were again mixed with the respective samples of dry matter estimation. The leaf area for each sample so recorded was averaged to obtain the leaf area per plant. Land area per plant was then used to compute LAI:

The mean crop growth rate (CGR) was defined as the increase in dry weight of plant material per unit area per unit time. Observation was recorded for 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS and 90-120 DAS. It was calculated according to the method from periodic dry matter recorded at different stages using the formula:

Relative growth rate (RGR) is the rate of increase in dry matter per unit of existing dry matter per unit time. Observation was recorded for 30-60 DAS, 60-90 DAS and 90-120 DAS. It was estimated according to formula: RGR (g/g day -1 ) =

The statistical analysis was conducted using Fisher and Yates (1967).

Results and Discussion

Plant population

The uniformity in plant population across treatments, despite numerical differences, can be attributed to the fact that seed germination and early seedling establishment in mustard are primarily governed by seed quality, soil moisture availability, and sowing technique rather than post-sowing nutrient application. Since identical seed lots, sowing methods, and seed rates were used across all treatments, variations due to nutrient management were minimal. Moreover, the favourable field conditions ensured satisfactory emergence and survival of seedlings in all plots. The slight numerical advantage observed in treatments receiving integrated application of RDF along with vermicompost, FYM, and sulphur (T 8 ) may be linked to improved soil physical conditions and microbial activity that aided early establishment, but the differences were too small to be statistically significant. These findings are consistent with earlier reports where nutrient management influenced crop vigour and yield attributes but had limited impact on initial plant population, which generally remains unaffected once uniform sowing and favourable germination conditions are ensured. Findings were in accordance with works of Saini et al. (2024) [13] and Nandhini et al. (2024) [10] .

Crop growth parameters

The consistent superiority of treatment T [6] reported similar trends in plant height, crop growth rate and dry matter accumulation in mustard when applied with NPK and S doses. Verma et al. (2023) [16] also reported similar trends on using integrated nutrient management in mustard.

In contrast, the poor performance of the control (T 1 ) and suboptimal nutrient combinations (T 2 , T 3 , T 5 , and T 6 ) was due to inadequate nutrient supply, which restricted cell division and elongation, reduced photosynthetic efficiency, and ultimately lowered biomass accumulation. Although treatments such as T 7 (75% RDF + VC + S) also performed well and remained statistically comparable to T 8 in some growth traits, the absence of FYM or reduced RDF levels limited their capacity to sustain growth at later stages. The decline in Relative Growth Rate (RGR) with crop age, despite higher dry matter accumulation in nutrient-rich treatments, can be explained by the dilution effect, where the relative increase in biomass becomes smaller as plants mature. This trend is well-documented in mustard and similar crops. Overall, the results clearly establish that integrated application of inorganic fertilizers with vermicompost, FYM, and sulphur is superior to either source alone, as it enhances both soil fertility and physiological efficiency, resulting in improved growth dynamics of mustard. These findings are in close agreement with earlier studies reporting that integrated nutrient management improves crop vigour, leaf area expansion, and biomass production by ensuring a balanced and sustained nutrient environment.

The results indicated that nutrient management treatments significantly influenced the net assimilation rate of mustard. During the early vegetative stage (30-60 DAS), the maximum NAR was recorded in T 8 (2.880 g m -2 day -1 ), followed by T 7 (2.496 g m -2 day -1 ), whereas the minimum occurred in the control T 1 (0.113 g m -2 day -1 ). At 60-90 DAS, the highest NAR was observed in T 7 (1.082 g m -2 day -1 ), followed closely by T 8 (1.036 g m -2 day -1 ), while the lowest was in T 5 (0.092 g m -2 day - 1 ). During the later stage (90-120 DAS), the maximum NAR was again noted in T 8 (0.891 g m -2 day -1 ), followed by T 7 (0.682 g m -2 day -1 ), while the lowest was in T 6 (0.047 g m -2 day -1 ). Overall, NAR peaked at 30-60 DAS and then declined with crop maturity, a trend commonly associated with increasing leaf senescence and declining photosynthetic efficiency. The superiority of T 8 and T 7 can be attributed to better nutrient availability, which enhanced chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, and assimilation efficiency per unit leaf area. The contribution of vermicompost and FYM in improving soil aeration, microbial activity, and nutrient mineralization likely supported sustained assimilation, while sulphur enhanced enzymatic activity and protein synthesis, further improving NAR. In contrast, the control (T 1 ) and sulphur-alone treatments (T 5 and T 6 ) recorded the lowest values, owing to nutrient deficiencies that restricted carbon assimilation and reduced efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus. Tripathi et al. (2025) [14] and Jat et al. (2023) [4] studied the effect of different types of vermicompost, combined with graded levels of recommended fertilizer dose (RDF), on yield and yield-attributing traits of Indian mustard and concluded similar trends with relative crop growth rate, net assimilation rate. Branch production in mustard showed significant improvement under integrated nutrient management. At 30 DAS, the highest number of branches was recorded in T 8 (7.70), followed by T 7 (7.27), while the control (T 1 ) registered the minimum (4.27). At 60 DAS, branch number remained highest in T 8 (11.90), followed by T 7 (11.47) and T 6 (10.87), while the minimum was in T 1 (7.60). By 90 DAS, T 8 attained the maximum (19.67), followed by T 7 (18.57) and T 6 (17.10), while the lowest was in the control (13.50). Overall, T 8 consistently maintained the highest branching across all growth stages, registering nearly 45.77% more branches at 90 DAS over the control. The higher branch production in T 8 can be explained by its balanced and continuous nutrient supply, which promoted vigorous vegetative growth and supported apical dominance release, thereby facilitating lateral shoot development. The combined role of organics and sulphur enhanced root activity, nutrient uptake, and hormonal balance (particularly cytokinins), which are crucial for axillary bud initiation and branching. Conversely, limited nutrient availability under control and sulphur-alone treatments restricted vegetative vigour and reduced branching. Similar findings were also concluded by Pandey et al. (2020) [11] in mustard.

Conclusion

The present investigation clearly demonstrated that nutrient management practices exerted a significant influence on plant growth and physiological parameters. Among the treatments, T 8 (100% RDF + 2.5 t/ha vermicompost + 5 t/ha FYM + 25 kg/ha sulphur) consistently outperformed all others, recording the tallest plants, maximum dry matter accumulation, highest LAI, NAR, and number of branches per plant. T 7 also maintained superior growth performance, particularly in plant height, LAI, and NAR, thereby ranking next to T 8 . In contrast, the control (T 1 ) and treatments T 2 , T 3 , and T 5 generally remained among the lower performers for most growth attributes. Physiological indices varied across treatments. T 2 excelled in CGR and RGR at later stages, indicating its effectiveness in sustaining growth rate, while T 8 and T 7 dominated during early stages, highlighting their vigour and superior resource utilization. Despite some variations, T 8 consistently registered higher percent gains over the control, reflecting the effectiveness of its nutrient regime. Overall, the results confirm that T 8 was the most efficient treatment in promoting plant height, biomass production, leaf area development, and branching capacity, thereby providing a distinct growth advantage over other treatments.

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