Author(s): R. K. Bony Devi and A. Dutta

Abstract: Among the edible oilseeds cultivated in India, rapeseed-mustard contributes nearly 30 per cent in the total production of oilseeds. Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat cover more than 80% of acerage under mustard. India holds a premier position in rapeseed-mustard economy of the world with 2nd and 3rd rank in area and production, respectively. This crop accounts for nearly one-third of the oil produced in India, making it the country’s key edible oilseed crop. Toria is a short duration winter crop cultivated largely in eastern India. Gobhi sarson and karan rai are the new emerging oilseed crops having limited area under cultivation. Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus) is a long duration crop confined to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Haryana. Traditional mustard oil accumulates high amount of erucic acid (C22:1) comprising 40-57per cent of total fatty acids. Winter rape (Brassica napus) with canola quality, i.e. low-glucosinolate, lowerucic acid varieties, represents one of the world’s major sources of vegetable oil. Since early 1970s, the ‘canola’ quality oil has gained acceptance worldwide as a healthy edible oil cooking medium. ‘Canola’ which is a registered trade mark of Canadian Oil Association denotes the seeds having less than 2 per cent erucic acid in its oil and less than 30 micro -moles of glucosinolate per gram of its deoiled meal. Canola is only a quality standard and not a classification based on biological attributes. Varieties with canola quality are also termed as ‘double low’ or ‘00’ rapeseed-mustard (LEAR) has also been released recently. Indian varieties under cultivation have high erucic acid (about 50%) and high glucosinolates (e” 100 moles/g defatted seed meal). Efforts have been made to develop zero erucic rapeseed- mustard at, PAU Ludhiana, TERI, New Delhi, IARI, New Delhi, DRMR, Bharatpur and GBPUAT, Pantnagar. Although, agro-climatic conditions for canola cultivation are congenial in all rapeseed mustard growing states, there is need to improve seed quality as well as oil content of canola varieties to improve production potential. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to study the effect of NPK on different varieties for seed yield and its attributes.

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