Abstract:
Seasonal variations affect growth and yield of a crop, primarily by changing its phenological
developmental processes. A study was conducted to establish the relationship between
growth, yield and their seasonal variations using ten mustard accessions (AC 501, 515, 580,
790, 1099, 1814, 2122, 5088, 7788 and 8831). The field study was conducted in a site at
Nagollagama in Kurunegala District during two growing seasons, Maha and Yala. There was
a significant variation in agronomic and phenological characters in different mustard
accessions between two seasons, Maha and Yala, and among the accessions (p ≤ 0.05). Plant
growth was affected by variations in climatic conditions. Soil moisture was unlimited and
comparatively steady in Maha, but significantly fluctuated during Yala. Difference in soil
nutrients, temperature and relative humidity during two seasons also contributed the
variation in plant growth. Significantly high yields were obtained from all mustard accessions
during the Maha season. There is a substantial variability of yield potential in different
mustard genotypes in studied. Three mustard accessions (AC 580, AC 5088 and AC 7788)
produced significantly higher yield in Maha and AC 7788 produced highest yield in Yala
season as well, showing adaptability to seasonal variations.
