Effect of sowing dates and varieties of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) for higher productivity during pre-kharif season in New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

Abstract

In the context of optimizing sowing dates and varieties for realizing higher productivity notably for sesame an experiment with varying sowing dates and varieties was executed under the climatic scenario of New Alluvial Zone of West Bengal. The experimental findings reveal that crop sown on 15th March (2017) recorded highest seed yield (760.1 kg/ha.), which was 3.4, 3.9 and 18.3% higher than the sowing time of 1st March, 1st April and 15th February , respectively during 2017. Among the three varieties, Rama registered highest seed yield (782.7 kg/ha.) and oil content (38.3%) because of significant improvement in yield components and seed quality.