Performance of Salicylic Acid and Hydrogel on Water Use Efficiency and Productivity of Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) in Jammu Region

Aims: To study the effect of salicylic acid and hydrogel on water use efficiency and productivity of Indian mustard in Jammu. Study Design: Randomized Block Design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: Oilseed Experimental Area, Research Farm, SKUAST-Jammu, Chatha, Jammu & Kashmir (UT). Methodology: The field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the Research Farm, Chatha of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu which is situated at 320 40’ N latitude and 740 58’ E longitude with an altitude of 332 m above mean sea level. The experiment comprised of nine treatments with 3 replications. Results: The application of Salicylic acid @ 200 ppm at flowering and siliquae formation stage in combination with use of hydrogel @ 2.5 kg/ha resulted in increase in the yield attributes, and seed yield of Indian mustard besides concomitant increase in the rainfall water use efficiency and cumulative water use of Indian mustard and was found to be the most economical treatment than other treatments in comparison. Conclusion: Based on average of two years of experimentation, application of Hydrogel @ 2.5 kg/ha + Salicylic acid 200 ppm at flowering stage & siliquae stage with maximum average benefit: cost ratio may be recommended for mitigation of moisture stress in Jammu region for obtaining higher crop yield, better rainfall water use efficiency, cumulative water use and profitability due to better average economic returns (2.50) in rainfed areas of Jammu region.