RESPONSE OF TOSSA JUTE (CORCHORUS OLITORIUS) TO LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND INTER-ROW SPACING

Response to inter-row arrangement and levels of nitrogen on the fibre yield of tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius L) was studied during the rainy seasons of 1987 and 1988 in the Gangetic plains of upland alluvial soils of West Bengal. Yield and yield characteristics of jute were influenced significantly by the levels of nitrogen compared with the control and inter-row spacing. However, inter-row spacings of 30 and 40 cm were statistically at par. Pooled data showed that maximum fibre (3.07, 3.37 tonnes/ha) and stick yields (7.57, 8.29 tonnes/ha) of jute were obtained when the crop was established at 30 cm row spacing along with 60 kg N/ha. This treatment combination gave 80 and 53% more yield of fibre and stick respectively compared with the control. The response due to N application was quadratic; the optimum being 73.6 kg/ha. N at 20 kg/ha gave maximum fibre yield of jute to each kilogram of applied nitrogen (32.9 kg fibre/kg N) with benefit : cost ratio (27.55).