Haryana Agricultural University Developed Mustard Variety RH 1975

On September 25, 2023, Chaudhary Charan Singh Agricultural University in Hisar, Haryana announced the development of a new and improved variety of mustard, known as RH 1975.

About Mustard RH 1975

• A new variety of mustard seed, known as RH 1975, has been developed by Haryana Agricultural University for irrigated areas. This variety is expected to yield 12 percent more than the existing RH 749 variety. 
• RH 1975 has been identified for sowing in Punjab, Delhi, Jammu, North Rajasthan, and Haryana. It has an average production of 11-12 quintals per acre and a production capacity of 14-15 quintals per acre. 
• With a 39.5 percent oil content, RH 1975 is expected to be more popular among farmers than other varieties. It will help to boost the economic condition of farmers and increase oilseed production. 
• The seed will be made available to farmers next year. RH 725, developed in 2018, is the most popular variety among farmers currently. It yields an average of 10-12 quintals per acre and has a production capacity of 14-15 quintals per acre. 
• RH 1975 was developed by a team of mustard scientists, who were awarded the Best Centre Award at a recent workshop in Jammu. 
• The mustard center of Haryana Agricultural University is among the best research centers in the country.

Key facts about Mustard

India is the fourth largest contributor of oilseeds and Rapeseed and mustard contributes about 28.6% in total oilseeds production. After soybean and palm oil, it is the third most important oilseed in the world. Mustard seeds and its oil is used for culinary purposes. Young leaves are used for vegetable purposes. Its oil cake is used for feeding cattle.

• Mustard-rapeseed groups include Indian mustard, Brown and yellow sarson, raya and toria crop. Indian mustard is grown in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, UP, Haryana and Gujarat also in some areas of south like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Yellow sarson is taken as rabi crop in Assam, Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal whereas in Punjab, Haryana, UP and Himachal Pradesh it is taken as catch crop. 
• Earlier brown sarson was cultivated in most of the area now its area under cultivation is decreasing and replaced by Indian mustard. Brown sarson has two ecotypes Lotni and Toria. Toria is a short duration crop sown under irrigated conditions. Gobhi sarson is a new emerging oilseed, a long duration crop grown in Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Soil: Light to heavy soil is good for mustard and rapeseed cultivation. Raya can be grown in all types of soil whereas loam to heavy soils are suitable for toria crop. Sandy and loamy sand soils are suitable for Taramira crops.
• Temperature and climate: Mustard thrives well in dry and cool climates, therefore mustard is mostly grown as a Rabi season crop. Mustard crop requires temperatures between 10°C to 25°C.

Rajasthan is called the Mustard State of India due to the highest production of Mustard.