Evaluation of Newly Released Cultivars of Indian Mustard on Weeds in Siwaliks Region of Jammu

Aims: To study the competitive ability of new varieties of Indian mustard with weeds during rabi season at Jammu

Study Design: Factorial RBD Design.

Place and Duration of Study: Oilseed Experimental Area, Research Farm, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha, Jammu & Kashmir (UT).

Methodology: A field experiment was conducted at the Research farm, Chatha, Jammu during the rabi season of 2010-11 and 2011-12 to study the effect of various cultivars of Indian Mustard on weed density and dry weight in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) under weedy check and weed free conditions. The two factors comprised of 6 Indian mustard cultivars under weed free and weedy check conditions

Results: The varieties NRCDR 2 and NRCDR 601 were found to be the most competitive cultivars of Indian mustard crop in suppressing the weeds at different crop growth stage at 60 days after sowing (DAS) and other subsequent crop growth stages and exhibited lowest weed Index during both the years of experimentation respectively.

Conclusion: Based on two years of experimentation, it may be concluded that maximum benefit:cost ratio (B:C ratio) was observed with cultivar NRCDR 2 (1.51 and 1.03) during both years of experimentation and was found to be the most competitive cultivar of Indian mustard in suppression of weeds during the early stages of crop growth.