Effect of sowing date on yield potential of niger crop in rainfedcondition

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during the kharij seasons oi'2008-09 to 2011-12 at Niger Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Vanarasi (Gujarat), India to determine the most suitable sowing date for nigcr crop. Seeds (5 kg/ha) of nigervariety GN-1 were sown in RBD on 15lh July, 25Ul July, 4th August, 14th August, 24th August and 4th September with a spacing of 30cm x 10cm and supplied with recommended dose of NPK. The results revealed that sowing on second fortnight of July (15th to 25th July) produced the highest seed yield (kg/ha) attributed mainly to the increased number of branches, capitula per plant, and a high 1000-seed weight whereas delay in sowing leads to early flowering and maturity of niger crop might be due to favourable environmental conditions.