Agro-Climatic Zones and Certified Mustard Varieties
Indian mustard (*Brassica juncea*) is the premier Rabi oilseed crop cultivated across Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Choosing climate-resilient varieties suited to irrigated or rainfed ecologies is critical.
The Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR-DRMR) has bred high-performing cultivars that yield 20 to 25 quintals per hectare with seed oil contents exceeding 40 percent.
- Top Public Varieties: Giriraj (DRMRIJ-31), RH 749, RH 725, PM 26, NRCHB 101, and Laxmi
- Commercial Hybrids: Pioneer 45S46, Coral 437, and Bayer mustard hybrids
- Rainfed Varieties: Pusa Mustard 25 and Geeta adapted to moisture-deficit zones
- Disease Resistance: Varieties bred with resistance against white rust (*Albugo candida*) and sclerotinia stem rot
Seed Rate, Spacing, and Sowing Schedules
Timely sowing between October 1 and October 20 ensures optimum vegetative growth and avoids high aphid pressure during flowering. A seed rate of 4 to 5 kilograms per hectare (1.5 to 2 kg per acre) establishes ideal plant populations.
Sow using a tractor seed-drill at a row spacing of 30 to 45 cm and plant-to-plant spacing of 10 to 15 cm after thinning at 15 to 20 days after sowing.
Deep sowing must be avoided; place seeds at a shallow depth of 2 to 3 cm in moist soil to facilitate rapid, uniform emergence.
- Sowing window: Early to mid-October for optimal canopy development and aphid escape
- Seed rate: 4 to 5 kg per hectare for line sowing; 3 to 3.5 kg for hybrid seed
- Spacing: 45 cm row-to-row and 10 to 15 cm plant-to-plant following thinning
- Sowing depth: 2 to 3 cm in fine, moist seedbed
Seed Treatment, Nutrition, and Sulphur Requirement
Prior to sowing, treat seeds with Thiram or Carbendazim at 2 g/kg seed to prevent seedling blight, followed by Imidacloprid 70% WS at 5 g/kg seed to protect young crops against painted bug and flea beetles.
Because mustard is an oilseed crop, sulphur is essential for glucosinolate and oil biosynthesis. Apply 20 to 40 kg of elemental sulphur or bentonite sulphur per hectare during basal land preparation.
- Fungicide treatment: Protects emerging radical and plumule from soil-borne fungi
- Insecticide dressing: Shields cotyledons from early painted bug attacks
- Sulphur nutrition: Essential for oil percentage enhancement and protein synthesis
- Thinning operation: Perform manual thinning 15-20 days after sowing to maintain spacing
Official source
Check the latest rules, benefits and forms here. KisanPe is an independent platform and is not a government website.
Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard Research (ICAR-DRMR) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What is the ideal sowing time for mustard (sarso) in India?
The ideal sowing window is October 1 to October 20, when mean daily temperatures drop to 25-28 degrees Celsius, allowing the crop to mature before spring aphid build-up.
Why is sulphur fertilizer mandatory for mustard cultivation?
Mustard requires sulphur to synthesize oil, chlorophyll, and amino acids (methionine and cystine); adequate sulphur increases seed oil content by 2 to 4 percent.
How much seed is required for sowing one acre of mustard?
Approximately 1.5 to 2 kilograms of certified mustard seed is required per acre for calibrated drill sowing.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
More Seeds, Crops & Cultivation guides
Ask Sakhi AI in your language, check live mandi prices or plan a loan with KisanPe tools.