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Field Preparation and Sowing

Field Preparation and Sowing :

The rapeseed and mustards require a fine, firm, moist seedbed so that a reliable moisture supply is assured for germinating seeds and young seedlings. For achieving this type of tilth the field. The field should be given a deep ploughing soon after the kharif crop is harvested in middle of September.
Thereafter, it may be ploughed for 3-4 times with desi plough and planking after each ploughing. The crop and weed stubbles along with established weeds should be picked up and thrown out of the field. In case of dry land areas where pre-sowing irrigation may not be given, the seed may be spread in damp place at night and next morning it should be sown. It increases the germination percentage of the seeds. In case when mustard is to be sown mixed it gets the same tilth as that of the main crop with which it is to be associated.

Soil Amendment:
Dolomite/lime application is required at the rate of 200 kg/hectare to minimize acidity and drubbing out root diseases.

Seed Rate and Spacing: The optimum plant population is a per-requisite for a good harvest of the crop. To obtain optimum plant population per unit area, recommended seed rate and between rows, and between plants with-in-a-row distances should be strictly followed as under:
 

Crops Seed Rate (Kg/ha) Spacing in cm (Row-Row x Plant-Plant)
Mustard 5-6 45 x 15
Toria 4-5 30 x 15
Brown Sarson 5-6 45 x 15
Yellow Sarson 5-6 45 x 15
Gobhi Sarson 5-6 45 x 15
Karan Rai 5-6 45 x 15


Time of sowing: Sowing time is very important as the attack of aphids and the extent of damage can be reduced considerably by sowing the crop earlier or before middle of October. Toria should be sown early and the crop comes to flowering early without proper vegetative growth and yield gets reduced. The atmosphere should range between 260-300C at the time of sowing.

Method of sowing: Line sowing always gives better results than broadcasting although broadcasting in case of high moisture condition is common especially for ‘toria’ crop. Thus it may be sown in shallow furrows behind desi plough or through seed drill as it is good and economical to adopt any of these devices for sowing the crop.

Thinning and intercultural operations: To obtain maximum yield, the optimum plant population per unit area should be maintained by removing the extra plants and thus maintain proper plant to plant distance as recommended (30-45 am x 15 cm). Thinning should be accompanied with hoeing and weeding after 15-25 days of sowing to promote plant growth.