Effect of nitrogen and sulphur application on yield and fatty acid composition of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil

The effects of nitrogen and sulphur on the yield and fatty acid composition of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil were studied in a field experiment. Significantly higher grain and oil yields were obtained with N and S application. Applications of nitrogen up to 60 kg ha(-1) and sulphur up to 40 kg ha(-1) favourably influenced the grain yield. Increasing levels of N decreased the oil content while application of sulphur improved the oil content. The contents of linoleic and linolenic acid were maximum (16.82 and 8.73%, respectively) with 60 kg N along with 40 kg S ha(-1). No use of fertilizers led to higher contents of undesirable fatty acids such as palmitic (hypercholesterimic) and erucic (do not have food value) acids.