Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.)Czern and Coss]

Rapeseed and mustard are important oil seed crops of the family calciferous and occupy second important oil seed crop after groundnut in India. However , The productivity of rapeseed -mustard is relatively low as compared to China, Germany and Canada. India contributes 6.30 m.ha.area and 7.20 mt of production of rape seed and mustard in 2008-09. Rajasthan ranks first in both area (2.74 mha)and production(3.46 mt) in the country. The crop contributed about 70 percent of the total oil seed production in the state. although , it is a major oil seed crop but its productivity in state (1266 kg/ha)is much lower than its realizable yield potential 2200-2400 kg /ha .Thus ,there is great scope fr increasing the production of mustard by bringing more area under cultivation and increasing its productivity by applying balance fertilization and soil fertility status.