EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND PLANT-DENSITY ON PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICSOF YELLOW SARSON (BRASSICA-CAMPESTRIS SUBSP OLEIFERA VAR YELLOW SARSON)

A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 1987-88 and 1988-89 on sandy-loam lateritic acid tract of West Bengal, to stud y the effect of date of sowing and plant density on productivity and e conomics of yellow sarson [Brassica campestris L. ssp. oleifera (Metzg er) Sinsk. var. yellow sarson]. Early-sown crop (mid-October to early November) gave high grain, stick and oil yields. It also gave the maxi mum net return along with high monetary return per rupee invested. Cro p sown beyond middle of November gave poor yield and very low net retu rn. High plant density (333,000/ha) recorded higher grain and stick yi elds, lower harvest index and higher oil yield than low plant density. It also gave high net return and high return per rupee invested and c ould partially recover the loss in productivity due to late sowing.