Response of transplanted Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus L) genotypes to age of seedling, nitrogen and sulphur levels

A field experiment was conducted to compare gobhi sarson genotypes by transplanting seedlings of variable age and to study the response to nitrogen and sulphur nutrition during rabi 2008-9 and 2009–10 on a sandy loam soil. Soil of the experimental field was neutral (pH 8.2) in reaction, low in available nitrogen, high in available phosphorus, medium in available potassium and sufficient in sulphur. Age of seedling and varieties in the main plots, nitrogen and sulphur nutrition in the sub plots constituted the treatments. Application of 100 kg N/ha caused more vegetative growth over the lower dose. Although, increase was consistent but it was significant only during 2ⁿᵈ year for plant height. The same level of nitrogen improved yield attributes non-significantly. Nitrogen @ 100kg/ha increased seed yield significantly over the lower dose during first year. Sulphur application had no effect on any of the growth characters except number of secondary branches during second year. Seed yield was also not influenced by sulphur application. Transplanting of 20 days old seedlings attained more vegetative growth than 35 days old ones. However, the effects were non-significant except number of secondary branches during second year. Likewise the younger seedlings produced more number of siliqua/plant and number of seeds/siliqua than the older ones. Effect of the age of seedling at the time of transplanting was non significant on seed yield during first year, but younger seedlings produced significantly more seed yield during second year. PAC-401 attained more plant height and number of secondary branches/plant than GSC-6. The same genotype produced more number of siliqua/plant and number of seeds/siliqua than the other. Variety PAC-401 gave significantly more seed and straw yield than GSC-6 during both the years. GSC-6 gave more yield from younger seedlings, whereas, PAC 401 produced higher seed from older ones.