Optimizing Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Productivity and Quality through Integrated Nitrogen and Sulphur Management under Semi-arid Conditions of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted under loamy sand soil during kharif 2020 and 2021 at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner. The treatments comprising seven integrated nutrient management practices (control, 100% RDN, 100% RDN through FYM, 100% RDN through vermicompost, 50% RDN + 50% N through FYM, 50% RDN + 50% N through vermicompost and 50% N through FYM + 50% N through vermicompost) and four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) assigned respectively to main and sub plots were replicated thrice in split plot design. Result revealed that different integrated nitrogen management practices had a significant effect on seed yield, nutrient concentration and uptake of sesame. Application of 50% RDN + 50% N through vermicompost (N5) and 50% RDN + 50% N through FYM (N4), were the most superior and equally effective in enhancing these parameters among all the treatments. The maximum seed yield (799 kg/ha) was obtained under 50% RDN + 50% N through vermicompost treatment. Producing the seed and stalk yields of 756 and 2329 kg/ha, application of 50% RDN + 50% N through FYM was found equally effective. Results further showed that 50% RDN + 50% N through vermicompost and 50% RDN + 50% N through FYM were significantly better and statistically similar in enhancing N, P, K and S concentration and their uptake and protein and oil content in seed.  Further, it was revealed that progressive increase in sulphur fertilization significantly improved the yield and nutrient uptake in sesame. Addition of 40kg sulphur resulted in increment of about 24.1 and 33.0 percent in seed and stalk yield, respectively over control viz-a-viz enhancing nutrient uptake by sesame. However, treatment receiving 60 kg S/ha showed higher but statistically similar results as that of treatment receiving 40 kg S/ha. Maximum values of N, P and S contents in soil after harvest were recorded at 60 kg S/ha with 40 kg S/ha being statistical at par.