Abstract :
A field experiment was conducted at farm of Jute and Allied Fibre Crops, MPKV, Rahuri to optimize the suitable sowing date, spacing along with topping management practice in seed yield and economics of jute (Corchorus olitorius). The three dates of sowing viz., 24th MW (11-17th June), 26th MW (25th June-1st July) and 28 MW (8-15th July), four spacings like 45cm x 10 cm, 45cm x 15 cm, 60 cm x 15 cm and 60 cm x 15 cm and three topping management techniques viz., no topping, 30 DAS and 45 DAS were laid out in split-split design and replicated thrice. Sowing date of 24th MW recorded significantly higher growth and yield attributes and jute seed yield (17.94 q ha-1) as compared to 26th MW (15.02 q ha-1) and 28th MW (13.08 q ha-1) and it was 19.44 per cent higher than 26th MW and 37.15 per cent higher than 28th MW during the kharif season of 2015. Similarly, It significantly recorded highest gross return (Rs.107674 ha-1 ), net return (Rs. 65036 ha-1) and B:C ratio ( 2.52 ) due to more seed yield achieved during this year. Spacing of 60 cm x 15 cm recorded significantly growth, yield attributes and seed yield (17.29 q ha-1). Similarly, It also recorded higher gross return (Rs. 102013 ha-1), net return (Rs. 59352 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.17). Topping at 45 DAS registered significantly higher seed yield (17.88 q ha-1) than over no topping and topping at 30 DAS. Similarly, It was also noted that the significantly higher gross return (Rs.107297 ha-1), net return (Rs. 63658 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.26) were achieved by topping at 45 DAS. Sowing of jute (C. olitorius) during 24th MW week (11-17th June) with optimum spacing of 60 cm x 15 cm and topping at 45 DAS is recommended for higher seed yield and maximum returns of jute in irrigated conditions.
Keyword :
Date of sowing, seed yield, spacing, topping, economics