Enhancing growth and yield in sesame through nipping, growth regulators, and foliar nutrition

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during the kharif seasons of 2020 and 2021 at the Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, Mahisapat, to evaluate the effect of terminal nipping, growth regulators, and nutritional sprays on growth, yield, and economics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The experimental soil was classified as Alfisol, characterized by low nitrogen (221 kg/ha), medium phosphorus (11.60 kg/ha), high potassium (185 kg/ha), and an acidic pH of 5.6. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications consisting of eight treatments (T1 = Control, T2 = Terminal nipping at 30 DAS, T3 = Salicylic acid (SA) spray 100 ppm at 30 DAS, T4 = DAP 2% spray at 30 DAS, T5 = T2 + T3, T6 = T2 + T4, T7 = T3 + T4 and T8 = T2 + T3 + T4). Among the treatments, T₈ (terminal nipping at 30 DAS + salicylic acid 100 ppm spray + DAP 2% spray at 30 DAS) resulted in the highest plant height (121.5 cm), number of branches per plant (8.3), number of capsules per plant (64), and seed yield (831 kg/ha). This treatment also recorded the highest net monetary return (Rs. 46,220/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (2.12), indicating its economic viability for enhancing sesame productivity.