Productivity and profitability of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. and Coss.] under varying levels of sulphur and boron application methods

Nearly 50.1 and 80.8% of soils in Odisha are deficient in sulphur and boron, respectively. These two nutrients play multiple roles in the nutrition of mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. and Coss.] crop. The rapeseed and mustard productivity in Odisha is lower than the national average due to non-application of these two nutrients. Hence, an experiment was conducted at Bhubaneswar, India, during rabi season of 2021-22 to assess the effects of sulphur levels and boron application methods on the productivity and profitability of the crop. The treatments comprising four levels of sulphur (S0: 0, S1: 20, S2: 40 and S3: 60 kg ha-1) assigned in the main plots and four boron application methods (B1: 0.5 kg B ha-1 basal, B2: B1 + one foliar spray of boron 0.02%, B3: B1 + two foliar sprays of boron 0.02% and B4: 1.0 kg boron ha-1 basal) assigned in the sub plots were tried in split plot design replicated thrice. The application of 60 kg S ha-1 recorded the maximum mustard seed yield (1275 kg ha-1), which was at par with 40 kg S ha-1 (1262 kg ha-1). Among boron application methods, 50% RDB basal + two foliar sprays of boron (0.02%) recorded the maximum seed yield (1170 kg ha-1) and proved better than other methods. The combined application of 40 kg S ha-1 + 50% RDB basal with two foliar sprays of boron (0.02%) produced the maximum mustard seed yield (1283 kg ha-1), net return ( ₹ 26,470 or 330.88 USD ha-1) and B: C ratio (0.64).