Seed Yield and Oil Yield of Mesta Varieties as Influenced by Spacing and Nutrient Sources

Field experiment was conducted at 19E block at field unit GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore which is located at a latitude of 12058' north, longitude of 7703' east and at an altitude of 930 m above mean sea level in Eastern dry zone (zone 5) of Karnataka to study the seed yield, oil yield of mesta as influenced by varieties, spacing and nutrient sources. The seed yield differed significantly due to different plant spacing, varieties and nutrient sources. Among the varieties, variety AMV-4 recorded significantly higher seed yield (755 kg/ha) than variety HS-108 (582 kg/ha). Significantly higher seed yield was recorded under 45 cm×10 cm spacing (687 kg/ha) than 30 cm×10 cm (650 kg/ha). Further, application of 5 t of FYM per ha along with 40:20:20 kg NPK per ha fertilizer registered higher seed yield (698 kg/ha) compared to 100 per cent N equivalent through FYM (626 kg/ha). The oil yield differed significantly due to different plant spacing, varieties and nutrient sources. Among the varieties, variety AMV-4 recorded significantly higher oil yield (130 kg/ha) than variety HS-108 (80 kg/ha). Significantly higher oil yield was recorded under 45 cm×10 cm spacing (110 kg/ha) than 30 cm×10 cm (101 kg/ha). Further, application of 5 t of FYM per ha along with 40:20:20 kg NPK per ha fertilizer registered higher oil yield (113 kg/ha) compared to 100 per cent N equivalent through FYM (92 kg/ha).