Impact of Nutrient Management on Soil Properties in Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Cultivation
Anchal Singh *
Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102, India.
Mahendra Pratap Singh
Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102, India.
Vyomendra Kumar Singh
Department of Agricultural Sciences, School of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102, India.
Shweta Gupta
Department of Agronomy, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur 208002, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field study was carried out during the rabi (winter) seasons of 2022–23 and 2023–24 at the Instructional Farm of Banda University of Agriculture & Technology, Banda, to evaluate the impact of integrated nutrient management on soil fertility in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.). The experiment employed a split-plot design, with four fertility levels (50%, 75%, 100%, and 125% of the recommended NPKS) assigned to the main plots, and four sub-plot treatments involving different combinations of micronutrients (Zn and B) and enriched vermicompost. Each treatment was replicated three times. Results showed that application of 100% and 125% of the recommended NPKS significantly increased the post-harvest availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, and zinc compared to lower application rates. Among the sub-plot treatments, the combinations of 2.5 kg Zn + 0.5 kg B + 500 kg enriched vermicompost (S3) and 5 kg Zn + 1 kg B + 250 kg enriched vermicompost (S4) consistently enhanced nutrient availability in the soil. However, the interaction effects between fertility levels and micronutrient-organic combinations were found to be statistically non-significant for all measured nutrients. The study concludes that integrated nutrient management, especially using either 100% or 125% of the recommended NPKS along with micronutrients and organic amendments, effectively improves soil fertility and supports sustainable mustard production under semi-arid conditions.
Keywords: Indian mustard, nutrient management, soil fertility, enriched vermicompost, micronutrients (Zn and B)