Economics, quality and nutrient uptake of sesame [Sesamum indicum L.] as response of varieties to varying levels of sulphur fertilization

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan) during kharif¸ 2015 on loamy sand soil. The experiment comprising of four levels of sulphur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg/ha) and four sesame varieties (RT-125, RT-127, RT-346 and RT-351) thereby making 16 treatment combinations was laid out in randomized block design and replicated thrice. Results revealed that N, P and S concentration in seed and stalk, their uptake, protein and oil content in seed and oil yield were improved significantly upto 40 kg S/ha. Being at par with 60 kg/ha, sulphur fertilization at 40 kg/ha also fetched 12.7 and 64.2% more net returns over 20 kg/ha and control, respectively. The maximum sulphur use efficiency was recorded when its level was raised from 0 to 20 kg/ha.It is further apparent from the data that N and P concentration in seed and stalk of sesame was not influenced significantly due to different varieties while S concentration in seed is significantly higher in RT-351 than the other varieties. It also represented significant improvement is nutrient uptake, oil content in seed and oil yield and fetched the maximum net returns of ₹52073/ha with the highest B: C ratio (2.74) among all the varieties. Application of sulphur at 49.19 kg/ha was found as the optimum dose for sesame as derived from response function.