Effect of foliar nutrition on growth analysis, productivity and profitability of irrigated sesame in Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 2024 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, and Tamil Nadu to study the effect of foliar nutrition on the growth analysis, productivity and profitability of sesame. The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eleven treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments included foliar applications of macronutrients such as DAP, KCl, NPK (19:19:19), as well as micronutrients like ZnSO4 and MnSO4, applied individually and in combinations at 30 and 45 days after sowing (DAS). Growth analysis viz., LAI, CGR and AGR was significantly improved with the foliar application of 2% DAP + 0.5% KCl + 0.5% ZnSO4 + 0.5% MnSO4 at 30 and 45 DAS (T8). This treatment also led to increased seed and stalk yields and gross income, net income, and BCR. The control treatment recorded the lowest values of growth analysis, seed and stalk yields, gross and net income, and BCR.