DefinePK

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Agriculture Research Institute Tarnab, Peshawar to study the impact of two green manuring crop species (guar and millet), their age (40, 70 and 100 days after sowing, DAS) and parts (whole plants and stubbles) under varying nitrogen levels (0, 75 and 100 kg ha-1) on pheno-morphological traits of canola (Brassica napus L. cv. Bulbul-98). Findings of the experiments revealed that guar as preceding green manuring crop had significantly increased plant height (8%), leaf area (18%) and biological yield (12%). Incorporation of whole plant green manuring had increased leaf area (3%) and biological yield (4%) along with delayed maturity of canola crop. Green manuring age had significantly affected leaf area plant-1 and biological yield. Leaf area increased when the age of green manuring increased from 40 DAS to 70 DAS; however, it decreased when green manuring was done at the plant age of 100 DAS. Dwarf plants and decrease in BY with the age of incorporation (100 DAS) were observed. Nitrogen application had significantly affected all the parameters except emergence m-2. Increasing N level from 0 to 100 kg ha-1 had enhanced LA and BY. Years had significantly influenced all parameters except emergence m-2 and leaf area plant-1. In the second year of the experiment, delayed maturity, taller plants and higher biological yield was observed than the first year. It was concluded from this study that incorporation of whole plants of guar as a green manuring crop at either 40 or 70 DAS along with 100 kg N ha-1 resulted improved pheno-morphological traits of canola under semiarid condition.
Keywords: Canola, Green manuring, Nitrogen, Incorporation, Phenology, Morphology
http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2015.43012