Fertilizer Mustard responds to nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer in a manner similar to small grains. Avoid using more than 10 pounds per acre actual N with the seed as germination injury can occur. Potash is rarely needed to increase mustard yields. Weed Control Weed control must be based on clean field selection and shallow seeding for quick and uniform emergence to obtain a good uniform stand. The mustard crop cannot be harrowed, rotary hoed, or tilled after emergence.
Weeds are a serious problem in mustard production.
They not only reduce yields, but weed seeds such as wild mustard, wild buckwheat and foxtail are difficult to remove and can cause severe cleaning losses and market grade reductions. Such losses reduce profits to the grower. Spray drift must be avoided. All mustards, but especially the oriental and brown types, should be sown on fields known to be relatively free of wild mustard infestation. Wild mustard can be mechanically separated from yellow mustard with large seed but separation is not possible with the brown and oriental mustards.