Influence of Different Sowing Date on the Morphology, Phenology and Thermal Indices of Rapeseed: A Review

Abstract

India ranks third in the world in the area and production of rapeseed mustard. Rapeseed mustard accounts for approximately 80% of all rabi oilseed production Currently, rapeseed cultivation accounts for less than 1% of the total area of rapeseed mustard in India. Weather is a very important factor among various abiotic stressors that affect crop growth and yield. Therefore, the plant response is greatly influenced by changes in the growing environment such as sowing date, rainfall, and temperature. Weather parameters play an important role in determining plant growth development and yield as the physical expression and various metabolic processes of a plant's genetic potential are strongly influenced by environmental factors. Rape blossoms are usually sown from mid-October to mid-November. Under multiple cropping systems after transplanting winter rice, the sowing time is usually from mid-November onwards. The thermal unit increased up to 120 DAS and decreased slightly upon maturation. Delayed sowing results in stunted growth, premature ripening, and a significant reduction in yield, primarily due to increased temperatures during grain-filling. In addition, late sowing depletes soil moisture, which adversely affects crop performance. Therefore, sowing at different dates is discussed in this review to find the optimum time to harvest more yield.