Influence of biochar on growth, yield and quality of summer organic sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and soil properties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on organically managed medium black calcareous clayey soil at Junagadh (Gujarat) during summer season of 2019-20 to study the effect of biochar on growth, yield and quality of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and soil properties. The experimental results revealed that significantly higher values of growth parameters viz., plant height and number of branches per plant and yield attributes viz., number of capsules per plant, length of capsule, seed weight per plant and test weight along with higher seed yield (1741 kg/ha) and stover yield (2123 kg/ha) were recorded with application of enriched biochar 0.25 t/ha + vermicompost 1 t/ha. However, significantly higher nutrient uptake by plant, organic carbon, available N, P, K in soil after harvest along with higher net return (₹ 99142/ha) and B:C ratio (2.69) were also realized with the application of enriched biochar 0.25 t/ha + vermicompost 1 t/ha. Based on the results, it could be concluded that higher production and net returns from sesame along with improved soil fertility can be obtained by the application of microbial consortium enriched biochar 0.25 t/ha + vermicompost 1 t/ha.