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GROWTH RELATIONSHIPS OF MUSTARD UNDER IRRIGATED CONDITIONS

A. MAJID AND G.M. SIMPSON*

Abstract: Growth srudy of mustard (Brassica juncea L. cv. cutlass) was srudied under (triple, double and single) irrigation regimes and dry conditioned treatment in the field during 1991 and 1992. In triple application treatment, water was applied at 10% flowering, pod formation and ripening @ 5-hectare centimetres per application in the double application, water was applied at 10 % . flowering and pod formation @ ,5- and 10hectare centimetres, respectively and in single irrigation at 10% flowering @ 15-hectare centimetres. Above ground plant material harvested at 7-day intervals showed a substantial increase in the amount and distribution of dry matter of the plant, panicularly in triple-irrigation treatment. Leaf-area index (LAI) reached a maximum just after the stan of flowering and then declined. Triple application increased leaf and pod areas in maximizing crop-growth rate (CGR) which increased to a maximum near early flowering and then declined. Changes in net-assimilation rate (NAR) during the life cycle were associated with concomitant changes in CGR. The contribution of assimilates from leaves during the seed ripening was related to leaf-area duration (LAD) which was strongly affected by water supply. Triple application enhanced NAR, improved leaf and pod areas during seed development.

National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Park Road, Islamabad Pakistan.

Department of Crop Sciences and Plant Ecology, Univ. of sask., Saskatoon, Canada, S7N OWO.