Seed yield and economics of white jute as influenced by different dates of sowing, spacing and topping schedule in Terai region of West Bengal

A field experiment was conducted at the farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya to optimize the suitable date of sowing, spacing and topping schedule in case of seed production of white jute. Jute cultivar JRC 321 was sown on 25 July, 9 August and 24 August  2011 with 45 x 10 cm, 45 x 15 cm and 60 x 15 cm spacing and topping was done at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS). Experiment was laid out in split-split-plot design with three replications. Date of sowing was assigned to the main plots, spacing to the sub-plots and topping to the sub-sub-plots. In terms of growth parameters 9 August sown crop performed the best. Results showed that among all the three dates of sowing 9 August sown crop recorded maximum seed and stick yield of 5.45 and 51.40 q/ha respectively as well as net return (Rs 20732/ha) and B:C ratio (1.76). Spacing influenced all growth parameters significantly except number of primary branches per plant. There was significantly higher seed yield (4.42 q/ha) obtained with 45 x 15 cm spacing but stick yield gradually decreased with the increase in spacing. Highest net return (Rs 9608/ha) and B:C ratio (1.35) was also achieved in this treatment. Topping at 45 DAS exhibited superior performance with regard to all the yield parameters and gave 12.05 per cent higher seed yield over topping at 30 DAS and  highest net return (Rs 9764/ha) and B:C ratio (1.36).