Comparative Study of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Summer Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Aim: The aim of the experiment is to know the effect of irrigation and nitrogen management on growth, yield attributes, yield, economics and WUE of summer sesame.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in split-plot design.

Place and Duration of Study: Research Farm of Agricultural Research Station, Brinjhagiri, Chhatabar of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha O Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), during summer season of 2024.

Methodology: Three levels of irrigation (I1 -3 irrigations at branching, flowering and capsule development stage, I2 -2 irrigations at branching and flowering stage and I3 -2 irrigations at branching and capsule development stage) as main-plot treatments and four nutrient management levels (N1 -STBR- 100% N through inorganic, N2 -75% N through inorganic + 25% N through FYM, N3 -75% N through inorganic + 25% N through vermicompost and N4 -50% N through inorganic + 25% N through FYM+ 25% N through vermicompost) as sub-plot treatments replicated thrice. The net plot size was 4m × 3m.

Results: I1 resulted the highest seed yield (795.1 kg ha-1) and stover yield (2057.1 kg ha-1). N1 produced highest seed yield (818.9 kg ha-1) and stover yield (2101.4 kg ha-1). Highest net return (₹35894.00) and return per rupee investment (1.83) was obtained in I1N1. The highest WUE (4.14 kg ha-1 mm-1) was calculated in I2N1.

Conclusion: Three irrigations at branching, flowering and capsule development stage and 50% N through inorganic + 25% N through FYM + 25% N through vermicompost can be recommended to achieve higher seed yield, higher oil content and oil yield.