From Seed to Harvest: A Complete Guide to Mustard Farming in India

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Mustard Farming
• What are the Different Varieties of Mustard in India?
• What is the Cultivation Process for Mustard in India?
  • Climate & Soil
  • Land Preparation
  • Seed Treatment & Sowing
  • Nutrient Management
  • Irrigation   
  • Interculture Operations
  • Pest & Disease Management
  • Mustard Harvesting
• Which are the Top Mustard Producing States in India?

Introduction to Mustard Farming

Mustard is one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history. It is a plant species from the Brassicaceae flowering family. In India, mustard-rapeseed (Rai) is the most important oilseed crop after groundnuts, accounting for approximately 25% of total oilseed production. Of the nine oilseed crops grown in the country, seven are edible. Mustard is one of them.

The crop has become an important source of revenue for small and marginal farmers in the country. The crop is heavily grown in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Assam, and Gujarat. It is a spice commonly used in Indian families for food and medicine, making its production essential to the agricultural economy.

What are the Different Varieties of Mustard in India?

Rapeseed mustard consists of eight species, which include Indian mustard, toria, yellow sarson, brown sarson, gobhi sarson, karan rai, black mustard, and taramira. Here are some of the mustard varieties grown in different regions of India:

What is the Cultivation Process for Mustard in India?

Mustard is a major cash crop in many parts of India, where a large portion of the rural population works in agriculture, as farmers or agricultural labourers. For this reason, farmers must prioritise correct cultivation practices to achieve high crop yields.

Let’s explore some key practices required for healthy and productive mustard farming.

Climate & Soil

Mustard is a rabi crop grown during the winter months, from October to November. The best temperature range for growing mustard is usually between 10°C and 25°C. They can also grow well in tropical or temperate climates. Mustard crops prefer a dry climate during their growing stage and slightly warmer conditions when they are forming seeds. Extreme heat or frost, prolonged rain, and waterlogging can have a negative impact. The annual rainfall requirement for mustard is 625 to 1000 mm. Also, this crop is at high risk of frost damage.

Mustard can grow in different types of soil, particularly in medium to heavy soils. The ideal type is sandy loam soil with good drainage facilities and high organic matter.

Land Preparation

Proper land preparation is important to ensure good germination and plant growth of mustard crops. For irrigated conditions, use a soil-inverting plough for first ploughing. Then a disc harrow or cultivator can be used for 3-4 ploughings. Ensure planking after each ploughing. For rainfed conditions, there is a need for disc harrowing after each monsoon shower for moisture conservation. During the final ploughing, soil-inhabiting insects like painted bugs can be managed by applying 25 kg 1.5 % quinalphos dust/ha. Mustard needs a clean, weed-free, and well-tilled field. Weeds and stubble should be properly removed from the field.

Seed Treatment & Sowing

Before sowing, treat seeds with metalaxyl (apron 35 SD) @ 6g/kg seed. This is to protect them from yield losses because of white rust and downy mildew. It is recommended to treat seeds with Trichoderma @ 6g/kg seed to manage soil-borne pathogens. To control different seed-borne insect infestations, seed treatment with Imidacloprid 17.8% SL @ 1 ml/lit water for 1 kg seeds is necessary. This significantly improves seed health and assures greater crop development.

The line sowing method is usually ideal for sowing mustard seeds at a spacing of 45 cm × 15 cm. The sowing rate should be 3.5 - 5 kg of seeds per hectare. Mix the seeds with ash or sand for sowing. Using seed drills for line sowing offers a higher yield per unit area than the broadcasting method.

Nutrient Management

Proper fertilizer management is important to ensure good yield results and improve the quality of mustard. Based on soil test, administer fertilizer application to minimize waste and improve profitability. In the case of timely sown condition, apply N, P, and K at the rate of 80:40:40 kg/ha. For late sowing, this rate increases to 100:50:50 kg/ha. It is also recommended to apply 40 kg/ha sulphur, 25 kg/ha zinc sulphate, and 10 kg/ha borax. Half of the nitrogen needs to be applied in the form of a basal dosage for irrigated fields. Provide the rest of the nitrogen 30-45 days after sowing during the first irrigation. It is recommended to use neem-coated urea as a nitrogen source. In the case of rainfed conditions, the full dose of suggested nutrients needs to be provided during the planting of mustard. For the basal dose, farmers apply 25 tons of Farmyard Manure (FYM), 60 kg P, and 25 kg N per hectare. Spray micronutrients regularly to improve plant health and increase yield.

Irrigation  

This crop demands around 190 to 400 mm of water. It is highly sensitive to water availability during key growth stages. Irrigation is required 35-45 days after sowing during the pre-flowering stage. Another need-based irrigation is important during the development of siliquae. The yield of mustard crop seeds improves by 24% with micro-sprinkler and 18% with the help of drip irrigation. If there is limited irrigation, it is recommended to only go through the first irrigation.

Interculture Operations

Interculture comprises all the operations that are carried out between sowing and harvesting to ensure that the mustard crops grow healthy. These activities include weeding, which is done manually, using hoes or sickles, or with the help of chemicals in the form of selective herbicides. Use a hand hoe to mechanically weed after 15-20 and 35-40 days of planting. Successful results have been observed by applying pendimethalin at 1 kg/ha before the emergence of weeds. Orobanche can be controlled by crop rotation and spraying paraquat at 2.5 ml/lit water.

Pest & Disease Management

Mustard Harvesting

Mustard harvesting, threshing, and storage should be ensured to minimize post-harvest losses. Harvesting is required after 75% of the pods turn golden yellow. Most seeds feel firm when pressed in this stage. The ideal harvesting time for this crop is morning, as pods remain damp due to night dew. Due to this, shattering losses are avoided. Harvesting can be done with sickles, by hand, or with a combine harvester.

Threshers can be used for threshing the mustard crop. When the plants are dry, they are beaten up to separate the seeds from the pods by hand or in a threshing machine. They are fanned to get rid of the husk, dust, and other particles of the plant. The clean mustard seeds are sun-dried for at least one week until the moisture content is reduced. They are then put into gunny bags and kept in a cool, dry place to avoid pests.

Which are the Top Mustard Producing States in India?

As per the data published by National Horticulture Board (NHB), the total mustard production in India for 2023-24 was 13.257 thousand tonnes. Rajasthan was the largest producer of mustard in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal. Here are some of the top mustard-producing states for 2023-2024 with their production data and share in percentage:

Mustard is among the top oilseed crops in India, which is primarily cultivated in the northern and eastern plains. Due to the growing demand for edible oil, the future prospects of mustard cultivation are highly profitable. Also, India is a big exporter of mustard seeds and oil. Following the cultivation steps discussed in the article, a successful mustard harvest can be easily ensured.