Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Suresh Kumar Meena, Raja Ram Bunker, PK Yadav, Poonam, Ram Lakhan Meena and Ashok Kumar Meena

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at Instructional Farm, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during Rabi, 2018-19 with treatment comprised of 4 irrigation levels viz., 40, 60, 80 and 100% PE in the main plot and three mulch viz., without mulch, straw mulch and plastic mulch in the sub plot. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. Research results indicated that viz., minimum days to head initiation (40.8 days), days to marketable head production (71.0 days) and maximum diameter of head (12.95 cm), average weight of marketable head (448.40 g plant^-1), yield (298.93 q ha^-1), net returns (Rs. 144342 ha^-1) and B:C ratio (3.30) were also observed with treatment 100% PE. Further, 80% PE gave at par values for all these parameters with 100% PE. The water use efficiency (8.05 q ha^-1 cm^-1) was found maximum with 80% PE. Among various mulch minimum days to head initiation (41.2 days), days to marketable head production (72.6 days) and maximum diameter of head (11.86 cm), average weight of marketable head (385.22 g plant^-1), yield (256.81 q ha^-1), water use efficiency (8.34 q ha^-1 cm^-1), net returns (Rs. 114051 ha^-1) and B:C ratio (2.73) were recorded under plastic mulch.