Effect of ethrel and nitrogen on nitrate reductase activity, photosynthesis, biomass and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss)

      The plants of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss; cultivar Alankar) were treated with 200 µL/L ethrel (2-chloro ethyl phosphonic acid) at flowering stage (60 d after sowing) along with basal application of nitrogen 40, 60, and 80 kg N ha-1. Effect of ethrel and nitrogen on leaf area index (LAI), net photosynthetic rate (PN), nitrate reductase (NR) activity and plant dry mass were recorded at 80 and 100 d after sowing. At harvest pods plant-1, 1000 seed mass and seed yield were recorded. Ethrel 200 µL/L x 80 kg N ha-1 treatment enhanced all the characteristics studied during the experiment