Mustard Crop Cultivation: A Complete Guide for Mustard Farming

If you’re planning to grow mustard, you’ve picked a crop that doesn’t ask for much but gives back generously—kind of like that quiet cousin who never complains and always brings snacks. This isn’t a textbook lecture. It’s more like something you’d hear sitting under a banyan tree with a bunch of farmers sipping tea. It’s stitched together from village stories, soil trials, weather tantrums, and some good old farm sense from folks in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, and northern Bangladesh. Learn how to grow mustard the right way with this practical, field tested guide. Covers sowing, irrigation, pests, and harvesting—with tips straight from Indian and Bangladeshi farmers.

1. Why Mustard Works for the Common Farmer

Let’s be real. Mustard isn’t glamorous. But it works. And for many smallholder farmers, that’s enough.

• Oil Income: One acre gives around 3 to 5 quintals of seed. Each quintal gives nearly 35 liters of oil using local wooden expellers. That’s your cooking oil and something to sell.
• Double Value: The seeds make oil, and the fresh green leaves? They’re a favorite in winter kitchens. Mustard saag with makki roti—need we say more?
• Low Maintenance Hero: Doesn’t ask for too many fertilizers, hardly begs for water, and it doesn’t sulk if the weather flips a little.
• Soil Benefits: Its roots act like a plough below the ground, loosening hard patches. Plus, its residue makes great organic cover for the next crop.

“I switched from wheat to mustard when fertilizer prices shot up,” says Rafiqul Islam from Rangpur. “It’s less needy, and the local oil guy buys it straight after harvest. No middlemen headaches.”

Study Mention: ICAR-DRMR’s 2020 report backs it up—a 2.5:1 return ratio, even under rainfed conditions.

2. Ideal Climate and Soil? Nothing Fancy

Mustard loves the winter sun. But too much frost? It sulks.

• Temperature Sweet Spot: 10°C–25°C
• Watch the Frost: A single cold snap during flowering can halve your crop.
• Soil Type: Loamy to sandy loam, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5

In Churu, Rajasthan, folks sow mustard right after harvesting bajra. They make the most of the leftover soil moisture.

Field Hacks:

• Too much clay? Add compost or sand.
• Too sandy? Mix in gobar (cow dung) or composted manure.

Punjab Agricultural University recorded 15–20% yield drop when soil pH dropped below 5.5. That’s not a joke.

3. Field Prep: No Machines Needed

Here’s how most farmers still do it—and it works just fine.

• 1 deep ploughing using a moldboard plough (or a desi iron tipped plough).
• Add 20+ tons of FYM (Farmyard Manure) per hectare—yes, it’s heavy work, but it pays off.
• Two shallow harrowings to level the surface.

In Azamgarh, some farmers still use a homemade wooden leveler pulled by oxen to save on diesel. Old school, but efficient.

4. Sowing Seeds: Timing is Everything

Miss the window, and you’ll pay with fewer pods.

• When to Sow:
  • Oct 15 to Nov 10 North India
  • Up to Nov 20 East India and Bangladesh
• How Much Seed:
  • Line sowing: 4–6 kg per acre
  • Broadcasting: 8–10 kg per acre
• Spacing: 30 cm rows, 10–15 cm between plants
• Depth: Just 1–1.5 cm. Deeper = weaker germination.

Old Trick: Mix mustard seed with sand or ash (1:3 ratio) to ensure it spreads evenly while broadcasting. It’s low tech and brilliant.

5. Watering Mustard: Less is More

Mustard doesn’t like soggy feet. Or over care.

• First Irrigation: After 20–25 days early branching
• Second: 45–50 days when pods are forming
• Third: Optional—only if it’s bone dry during flowering.

Big warning: Watering during flowering? You’ll see flowers dropping like dead leaves.

In Jharkhand, some hill farmers don’t irrigate at all. Dew, leftover rainwater, and smart soil prep do the job.

6. Weed Control: Early Bird Gets the Yield

Weeds are sneaky thieves. If you wait, they win.

• Manual Weeding: Do it at least twice—around 20 and 35 days after sowing.
• Chemical Option: Spray Pendimethalin (1 liter/acre) within 24 hours of sowing.

In Murshidabad, women often do early morning weeding to avoid the midday sun and protect mustard stems, which bruise easily.

DRMR trials showed 30% lower yields in weed infested plots.

7. Fertilizer & Nutrients: Just What It Needs

Don’t overfeed. Mustard isn’t a greedy crop.

• Nitrogen (N): 40 kg/ha
  • Half during sowing, rest after 30–35 days
• Phosphorus (P): 20 kg/ha
• Potassium (K): 15 kg/ha
• Sulfur (S): 20 kg/ha (a must for oil content)

Organic Add ons:

• Vermicompost
• Mustard cake
• Wood ash

DRMR 2021 found 18% more oil in mustard where gypsum was used as a sulfur source.

8. Mustard Pests & Their Local Remedies

These bugs mean business. So should you.

• Aphids: They suck plant juices. Spray neem oil (5 ml/L), or use sticky yellow traps.
• White Rust: Silvery white spots. Use Metalaxyl early.
• Powdery Mildew: White coating on leaves. Dust with sulfur.
• Alternaria Blight: Brown circular spots. Use Mancozeb + Carbendazim.

Folk Fix: In Nepalese border villages, farmers boil garlic, turmeric, and chilies, then spray it on the crop weekly. It’s smelly but effective.

9. Harvest Time: Don’t Be Late

Timing the harvest is crucial. Too late and—pop—there go the seeds.

• Crop Duration: 100–120 days
• Signs: 75–80% of pods turn brownish yellow

Steps:

• Cut from base
• Dry under shade for 6–7 days
• Thresh manually or with a small thresher

Delay = seed shattering. And no farmer wants that heartbreak.

10. Storing and Selling: Small Tips, Big Impact

Storage can save or sink your profit.

• Dry Seeds Well: Below 8% moisture
• Packing: Use jute bags or plastic lined sacks
• Avoid Bugs: Mix in dried neem leaves

Where to Sell:

• Nearby oil mills
• Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)
• Village haats (weekly rural markets)

Market Trend: Cold pressed mustard oil is catching on in urban areas—sells at 30–40% more. Health conscious buyers love it.

Mustard Crop Cultivation – Quick Reference Table

Final Thoughts: A Farmer’s Crop, Not a Fad

Mustard doesn’t care about flashy machines or huge budgets. It rewards timely sowing, modest inputs, and practical know how. It’s still one of the most trusted crops for smallholder farmers.

Don’t let the simplicity fool you—it’s a survivor crop.

Sources

• 12 interviews with farmers from Rajasthan, Bengal, Bihar & Bangladesh
• ICAR-DRMR Reports (2018–2022)
• Punjab Agricultural University Circulars
• KVK Barasat & BAU Mymensingh field notes

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zahur

Welcome to AgriBloom . I’m Sayed Zahur Ahmed, an agriculturist with a BSc in Agriculture and MSc in Plant Pathology from Bangladesh Agricultural University. I founded AgriBloom to bridge science and real-world farming. With a focus on crop disease management, sustainable agriculture, and practical solutions, I use both my academic background and hands-on field experience to help farmers grow smarter and safer. My mission is simple: make agricultural knowledge accessible, actionable, and future-ready. Whether you're a grower, student, or enthusiast—AgriBloom is your go-to space for expert tips, field-tested methods, and a growing community that believes in better farming. Let’s cultivate knowledge and harvest success—together. If you're curious about plant diseases or just want to dig a little deeper into sustainable farming, feel free to check out my thesis: " Integrated Management of Yellow Mosaic Disease of Jute ". It's a detailed study that explores practical ways to control this common jute disease using eco-friendly and effective strategies.
Thesis Link : https://saulibrary.edu.bd/daatj/public/uploads/BAU200601_19-Pp_5.pdf

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