Mustard Crop
Complete Notes
General Overview
| Particular | Information |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Mustard / Rapeseed–Mustard |
| Scientific Name | Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss. |
| Family | Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
| Chromosome No. | 2n = 36 (B. juncea) |
| Crop Type | Rabi Oilseed Crop |
| Economic Part | Seeds |
| Photosynthetic Pathway | C3 Plant |
| Pollination | Mostly Cross-pollinated (insect pollination) |
| Fruit Type | Siliqua |
| Inflorescence | Raceme |
| Root System | Tap Root |
| Flower Colour | Yellow |
| Oil Content | 35–45% |
| Major Uses | Edible oil, condiment, fodder, green manure |
Origin & Distribution
| Origin | Central Asia |
| Centre of Diversity | Central Asia |
| World Top Producers | Canada (1st), China (2nd), India, Germany, France |
| Top Producer (IN) | Rajasthan (Highest producing state) |
| Other States (IN) | Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat |
Important Species
| Species | Common Name & 2n | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Brassica juncea | Indian Mustard (Rai) 2n = 36 |
Most widely cultivated in India |
| Brassica campestris (B. rapa) | Toria / Yellow Sarson 2n = 20 |
Early maturing |
| Brassica napus | Gobhi Sarson 2n = 38 |
High yield, high oil content |
| Brassica nigra | Black Mustard 2n = 16 |
Used as spice |
| Brassica carinata | Ethiopian Mustard 2n = 34 |
Tolerant to abiotic stress |
| Eruca sativa | Taramira 2n = 22 |
Suitable for arid regions |
Mustard Triangle (U’s Triangle)
Developed by Eiji (Nagaharu) U (1935) explaining genetic relationships among basic diploid and amphidiploid species.
Diploid Species (Basic Species)
| Species | Genome & 2n | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| B. rapa (B. campestris) | AA (2n=20) | Toria / Yellow Sarson |
| B. nigra | BB (2n=16) | Black Mustard |
| B. oleracea | CC (2n=18) | Cabbage Group |
Amphidiploid Species (Hybrid Species)
| Parent Species | Hybrid Species | Genome & 2n |
|---|---|---|
| AA × BB | Brassica juncea | AABB (2n=36) |
| AA × CC | Brassica napus | AACC (2n=38) |
| BB × CC | Brassica carinata | BBCC (2n=34) |
🧠 Memory Trick
AA + BB = AABB (B. juncea)
AA + CC = AACC (B. napus)
BB + CC = BBCC (B. carinata)
Climate, Soil & Sowing
Climate & Soil Requirements
| Climate | Cool and Dry (Rabi Season) |
| Opt. Temp. | 20–25°C (Germination: 20–25°C) |
| Rainfall | 350–450 mm |
| Frost Sensitivity | Highly sensitive at flowering stage |
| Best Soil | Well-drained Loam to Clay Loam (pH: 6.0–8.0) |
| Waterlogging | Harmful |
Sowing Window & Methods
| North India | Mid-October to Mid-November |
| Central India | October |
| South India | October–November |
| Methods | Line Sowing (Best), Seed Drill, Broadcasting |
| Seed Rate | Line Sowing: 4–5 kg/ha | Broadcasting: 6–7 kg/ha |
Recommended Spacing
| Crop Type | Recommended Spacing |
|---|---|
| Indian Mustard | 45 × 15 cm |
| Toria / Yellow Sarson | 30 × 10 cm |
| Gobhi Sarson | 45 × 20 cm |
Seed Treatment
| Treatment | Dose / Purpose |
|---|---|
| Carbendazim | 2 g/kg seed |
| Thiram | 3 g/kg seed |
| Metalaxyl | Protection against downy mildew/white rust |
| Azotobacter | Nitrogen fixation support |
| PSB | Improves phosphorus availability |
Nutrient Management & INM
| Nutrient | Dose (kg/ha) | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | 80–120 kg/ha | Vegetative growth & yield |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 40–60 kg/ha | Root development & seed formation |
| Potassium (K₂O) | 20–40 kg/ha | Disease resistance & oil quality |
| Sulphur (S) | 20–40 kg/ha | Oil synthesis & seed quality |
| Zinc (ZnSO₄) | 25 kg/ha | Enzyme activity & growth (if deficient) |
| Boron (B) | 1–2 kg/ha | Flowering & seed setting (if deficient) |
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM)
| FYM / Compost | 5–10 t/ha |
| Sulphur Source | Gypsum / Bentonite Sulphur |
| Biofertilizers | Azotobacter (N-fix) & PSB (Phosphate solubilizer) |
Deficiency Symptoms
| Nitrogen (N) | Yellowing of older leaves |
| Phosphorus (P) | Stunted growth, purplish leaves |
| Potassium (K) | Leaf margin scorching |
| Sulphur (S) | Yellowing of young leaves |
| Zinc (Zn) | Small leaves, shortened internodes |
| Boron (B) | Poor flowering, flower drop, hollow stem |
✨ Key Nutrient Fact
Sulphur is the essential nutrient required for oil synthesis and quality in mustard crops.
Irrigation Management
| Requirement | 2–4 irrigations |
| Methods | Border strip / Furrow / Sprinkler |
| Waterlogging | Harmful |
Critical Stages of Irrigation
| Stage | Importance |
|---|---|
| Branching | Better vegetative growth |
| Flowering | Most Critical Stage |
| Siliqua Formation | Seed development |
| Grain Filling | Higher seed weight and oil content |
Weed Management
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Bathua | Chenopodium album |
| Wild Oat | Avena ludoviciana |
| Canary Grass | Phalaris minor |
| Purple Nut Sedge | Cyperus rotundus |
| Scarlet Pimpernel | Anagallis arvensis |
Control Measures
| Pre-emergence | Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha |
| Post-emergence | Quizalofop-ethyl (for grassy weeds, where recommended) |
| Hand Weeding | 20–25 DAS |
Plant Pathology (Diseases)
| Disease | Causal Organism | Symptoms & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Alternaria Blight (Most Imp.) | Alternaria brassicae | Brown to black concentric spots on leaves, stem & siliqua. Mgt: Mancozeb / Propiconazole. |
| White Rust (White Blister) | Albugo candida | White pustules; malformed floral parts (“staghead”). Mgt: Seed treatment, Metalaxyl. |
| Downy Mildew | Hyaloperonospora parasitica | Yellow patches upper leaf, white growth below. Mgt: Seed treatment with Metalaxyl. |
| Powdery Mildew | Erysiphe cruciferarum | White powdery growth on leaves. Mgt: Wettable sulphur spray. |
| Sclerotinia Stem Rot | Sclerotinia sclerotiorum | White cottony growth, stem rot, black sclerotia. Mgt: Crop rotation, fungicide. |
| Club Root | Plasmodiophora brassicae | Swollen roots, wilting, stunted growth. Mgt: Lime application, crop rotation. |
Entomology (Insect Pests)
| Insect Pest | Scientific Name | Damage & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Mustard Aphid (Most Serious) | Lipaphis erysimi | Sucks sap, causes leaf curling. Mgt: Imidacloprid / Thiamethoxam, ladybird beetles. |
| Painted Bug | Bagrada hilaris | Sucks sap from seedlings and leaves. Mgt: Seed treatment, insecticide. |
| Sawfly (Major Defoliator) | Athalia lugens proxima | Larvae feed on leaves. Mgt: Hand collection, insecticides. |
| Diamondback Moth | Plutella xylostella | Holes in leaves. Mgt: Pheromone traps, Bt formulations. |
| Leaf Miner | Chromatomyia horticola | Mines in leaves. Mgt: Need-based insecticide spray. |
🐞 Biological Control
Ladybird Beetle (Coccinella septempunctata) is an important natural biocontrol agent against mustard aphids.
Harvesting, Storage & Quality
| Harvest Stage | 75–80% siliquae turn yellow-brown |
| Crop Duration | 110–150 days (variety dependent) |
| Safe Moisture | 7–8% (Seed Moisture ≤8%) |
| Physical Purity | ≥98% |
| Germination Standard | ≥70% (certified seed standard) |
| Harvest Delay Risk | Causes shattering and seed loss |
Important Quality Terms
| Shattering | Splitting of mature siliquae causing seed loss |
| Glucosinolates | Sulphur-containing compounds affecting meal quality |
| Erucic Acid | Fatty acid in mustard oil; low levels preferred in edible oil |
| Canola Quality | Low erucic acid AND low glucosinolate traits |
Important Varieties
| Variety Name | Developer & Duration | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Varuna (T-59) | IARI | 125–135 days | First widely adopted Indian mustard variety |
| Pusa Bold | IARI | 130–140 days | Bold seeds, high yield (Most popular) |
| Pusa Jai Kisan (Bio-902) | IARI | 130–140 days | High yielding, suitable for timely sowing |
| Pusa Mustard 21 | IARI | 125–135 days | High oil content |
| Pusa Mustard 25 / 26 | IARI | 125–140 days | High yielding, suitable for irrigated areas |
| RH 30 / RH 749 | CCS HAU, Hisar | 125–140 days | Popular in Haryana, high yield & oil |
| NRCHB 101 | ICAR-DRMR | 125–130 days | High yielding, disease tolerant |
| Giriraj | CSAUA&T, Kanpur | 130–140 days | Large seed size |
Research Institutes
| Institute | Location | Major Role |
|---|---|---|
| ICAR-DRMR | Bharatpur, Rajasthan | Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research |
| ICAR-IARI | New Delhi | Development of improved mustard varieties |
| AICRP-RM | Bharatpur, Rajasthan | Multi-location testing & tech evaluation |
| ICAR-IIOR | Hyderabad, Telangana | Oilseed research & production technologies |
Previous Year Questions
Q: Scientific name of Indian mustard?
Ans: Brassica juncea
Q: Fruit type of mustard is?
Ans: Siliqua
Q: Alternaria blight of mustard is caused by?
Ans: Alternaria brassicae
Q: White rust of mustard is caused by?
Ans: Albugo candida
Q: Most serious insect pest of mustard?
Ans: Mustard Aphid (Lipaphis erysimi)
Q: Which nutrient is most important for oil synthesis in mustard?
Ans: Sulphur
Q: Which state is the largest producer of rapeseed-mustard in India?
Ans: Rajasthan
Q: Premier research institute for rapeseed-mustard is located at?
Ans: Bharatpur (ICAR-DRMR)
Q: Inflorescence of mustard is?
Ans: Raceme
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