Screening of mustard (Brassica juncea) varieties under different quality of saline water irrigation in semi-arid conditions of Haryana

Aim: Screening mustard varieties under saline water irrigation, and to evaluate the salt tolerant mustard varieties for semi-arid conditions of Haryana. Methodology: This study was conducted in permanent pucca plots measuring 2m x 2m with six mustard varieties (Kranti; NC, Kranti; Filler, CS2005-143,Giriraj,CS-54, and CS-60) and four quality of irrigation water, i.e., ECiw 0.36, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 dS m-1 in a Completely Randomised Design with three replications in sandy loam soil. Results: The data on seed yield, straw yield and other physiological parameters indicated decrease with increasing salinity of irrigation water. The interaction between varieties and saline water irrigation was in significant. Among six mustard varieties, variety CS 2005-143 showed significantly higher seed and straw yield (24.47 and 74.37 q ha-1) as compared to the remaining varieties. However, the variety Kranti (NC) attained the lowest seed and straw yield (15.47 and 45.53 q ha-1). The overall mean reduction in seed and straw yield at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 dS m-1 was 3.69, 12.42, 24.89 and 4.16, 14.85, 27.54% as compared to canal water (0.36 dS m-1), respectively. Physiological parameters like chlorophyll content, chlorophyll stability index (%), relative water content (%), assimilation rate declined under salinity stress. The maximum reduction was noticed at higher salinity level (7.5 dS m-1). Variety CS 2005-143 benefited higher among other varieties at each salinity levels. Interpretation: Among the six mustard varieties, CS 2005-143 performed better in terms of seed yield, straw yield, and other physiological parameter at higher salinity levels (7.5 dS m-1). Key words: Chlorophyll content, Mustard varieties, Saline water, Semi-arid areas