Effect of staggered date of sowing and fertilizer application on yield and yield attributing characters of Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

The investigation was carried out under AICRP on Niger and Sesame at JNKVV, Jabalpur in split plot design (SPD) with three replications having treatments comprised of main plot, dates of sowing viz., Before RDS at sufficient moisture under pre monsoon rainfall, Recommended date of sowing [RDS], One week after RDS and Two weeks after RDS and sub plot, fertilizer applications viz., Control, Recommended dose of fertilizer [N,P,K] and RDF [50%N and 100% P,K was applied as basal application and 50%N was given in two split doses]. ]. Last week of August date of sowing and F3 (100% P & K and 50% N as basal and 50% N in two split doses) fertilizer dose was found best for most of the yield and yield attributing characters viz., plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, length of capitulum, No. of seeds capitulum, No. of seeds capitulum, test weight, biological yield, economic yield and harvest index and seed quality parameters.