HUMIC ACID IMPROVES GROWTH, YIELD AND OIL CONTENT OF BRASSICA COMPESTRIS L.

Humic acid efficiently improves soil fertility and crop productivity, especially on poorly fertile and alkaline-calcareous soils. In this field study, the growth, yield and oil content of three mustard varieties viz., S-9, P-78 and AH-2001 were observed under varying levels of humic acid application to a poorly fertile and alkaline-calcareous soil. The humic acid was applied to soil at the time of sowing @ 0, 3.17, 6.35, and 9.35 kg acre -1 . Overall varieties, compared to control, the application of humic acid @ 6.35 kg acre -1 positively affected almost all the growth and yield parameters. The variety S-9 responded comparatively better to all the application rates of humic acid than its other two counterparts. The validity of these results is warranted through further experiments. Keyword: Application rates, Brassica compestris L., growth, humic acid, mustard, yield