Changes in morpho-physiological traits of mustard under the influence of different fertilizers and plant growth regulator cycocel

Rate of dry matter accumulation varies across the life cycle of a crop and dry matter and leaf area are sampled at intervals ranging from days to weeks to quantify effects of environmental influences or to analyze genotypic differences between crop cultivars. To study the impact of reduced dose of chemical fertilizer and its combination with biofertilizer, compost and growth retardant on morpho-physiological traits of mustard field experiments were conducted during winter season of 2006, 2007 and 2008 with mustard (Brassica campestris cv. B9) at Burdwan, West Bengal, India. In 2006, seven available varieties of mustard were cultivated using a recommended dose of chemical fertilizer (N:P:K – 100:50:50). In the second and third years, influence of six different combined doses of chemical and biofertilizers; growth regulator cycocel (CCC) and compost on morpho-physiological traits viz., leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), leaf area ratio (LAR), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and harvest index (HI) of mustard and the field data were analyzed statistically by using PROC GLM of SAS (SAS Institute, 1997). Differential varietal response was reflected for the studied traits during varietal trial. The combined treatment of biofertilizer, chemical fertilizer and compost significantly (P < 0.05) increased the LAI, LAD, CGR and NAR and reduced LAR during crop maturity. The HI index value showed significant variation among the varieties as well as between the treatments of biofertilizer, chemical fertilizer and compost. Growth regulator application significantly (P < 0.05) reduced LAI, LAR, NAR and increased LAD, CGR at crop maturity and it can be concluded from our findings that reduced dose of chemical fertilizer and its combination with biofertilizer + compost + growth regulator have pronounced effect on crop morpho-physiological attributes under less environmental pollution with lesser use of nitrogenous and phosphatic chemical fertilizer.