Certainly, here is an article on When to use urea in mustard crop:
Mustard is one of the most important winter crops in India, widely grown for edible oil, spice, and condiment. To grow a high-yielding and healthy mustard crop, proper nutrient management is essential. Urea is one of the most used fertilizers in mustard cultivation due to its high nitrogen content. However, the timing and dose of urea application are crucial for achieving maximum crop productivity and quality.
Here are some key points to consider when using urea in mustard crop:
1. Soil analysis: Before applying urea or any other fertilizer, it’s important to know the soil nutrient status, pH, and texture. A soil test can help determine the basic fertility status of the soil and the fertilizer requirement of the crop. Mustard prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.5) with good drainage and organic matter content.
2. Urea dose: The recommended dose of urea for mustard varies based on soil fertility, crop growth stage, and yield target. Generally, a dose of 120-150 kg of urea per hectare is recommended for irrigated mustard, while 80-100 kg/ha for rainfed mustard. The fertilizer can be applied in split doses, i.e., 1/3 at sowing, 1/3 at vegetative growth, and 1/3 at flowering.
3. Timing of urea application: The timing of urea application is critical for mustard’s growth and development. The first dose should be applied at sowing or within the first 10-15 days after sowing to provide enough nitrogen for seedling establishment. The second dose can be applied 30-40 days after sowing to promote vegetative growth and foliage development. The final dose should be applied at the flowering stage to enhance the seed yield and oil quality.
4. Nitrogen use efficiency: Use of urea in mustard crop should aim to achieve higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for better crop yield and minimal nitrogen losses. NUE refers to the amount of nitrogen absorbed by the crop relative to the amount applied as fertilizer. Splitting urea into three doses is a proven management practice to improve NUE and reduce nitrogen stress on the crop.
Overall, the judicious use of urea in mustard crop can significantly increase crop productivity, oil content, and quality. However, excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer can lead to lodging, delayed maturity, low oil content, and environmental pollution. Therefore, it’s important to follow fertilizer recommendations, soil test results, and crop growth stage while using urea in mustard cultivation.