Effect of direction of sowing and spacing on yield and economics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L)

Introduction

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most versatile and survivor crops that can be grown in semi-arid and arid regions. It has unique attributes that can fit almost any cropping system being a short duration crop with a potential to sustainable intensify crop production through crop diversification (Weiss, 2000) [6] . This evidently indicates the potentiality for improvement in yield. Worldwide sesame seed consumption was USD 6559.0 million in 2018, and it will reach USD 7244.9 million by 2024, with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 1.7% Global sesame consumption is steadily increasing mainly due to changing consumer's consumption patterns and increasing health awareness. According to Directorate of Economics and Statistics (2019), India ranks first in world with 19.47 lakhs ha area and 8.66 lakhs tones production. The average yield of sesame (413 kg/ha) in India is low as compared with other countries in the world (535 kg/ha). The main reasons for low productivity of sesame are its rainfed cultivation in marginal and sub marginal lands under poor management and input starved conditions. However, improved varieties and agro production technologies capable of increasing the productivity levels of sesame are now developed for different agro ecological situations in the country. A well-managed crop of sesame can yield 1200-1500 kg/ha under irrigated and 800-1000 kg/ha under rainfed conditions (FAOSTAT, 2012) [2] . The crop is grown in almost all parts of the country. More than 85% production of sesame comes from West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (A.P) and Telangana.

Materials and Methods

The experiments on the Effect of Direction of sowing and spacing on yield and economics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design consisting of nine treatments replicated thrice with 3 different spacing (20 cm × 15 cm, 30 cm × 10 cm, 40 cm × 15 cm) and 2 directions (East-West, North-South). Sesame variety Ronak-20 was selected for sowing. Seeds were sown in line manually on 2024. Seeds were covered with the soil immediately after sowing. The spacing adopted was plant to plant 10 cm and row to row 30 cm according to the treatment details and the seeds were drilled at 3-4 cm depth. All the treatments were applied by balancing to the initial soil test values and crop requirements to justify the crop response to the supplied nutrients in both years.

Results and Discussion

Number of capsules per plant

There was significant difference among the treatments, significantly higher number of capsules per plant (35.13) was recorded with the application of 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South. However, 30 cm × 10 cm + East-West (34.80) were statistically at par with Treatment (6) and minimum was reported in 20 cm × 15 cm + East-West (30.47).

Number of seeds per capsules

There was significant difference among the treatments, significantly higher number of seeds per capsules (51.53) was recorded with the application of 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South. However, 30 cm × 10 cm + East-West (51.20) were statistically at par with Treatment (6) and minimum was reported in 20 cm × 15 cm + North-South (46.80).

Higher seed yield (555.40 kg/ha) was recorded with the application of 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South. However, 30 cm × 10 cm + East-West (551.30 kg/ha) was statistically at par with Treatment (6) and minimum was reported in 20 cm × 15 cm + North-South (487.69 kg/ha).

Gross return (69,425.00 INR/ha) was found to be highest in the treatment 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South, and minimum Gross return (60,960.90 INR/ha) was found to be in 20 cm × 15 cm + North-South as compared to other treatments.

Net return (40,725.00 INR/ha) was found to be highest in the treatment 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South, and minimum Net return (32,260.90 INR/ha) was found to be in 20 cm × 15 cm + North-South as compared to other treatments.

Benefit cost ratio (B:C)

Benefit cost ratio (1.36) was found to be highest in the treatment 40 cm × 15 cm + North-South, and minimum Benefit cost ratio (1.07) was found to be in 20 cm × 15 cm + North-South as compared to other treatments.

Discussion

At low plant population there was minimal competition for space, light, moisture and nutrients which could have suggested enhanced dry matter production and seed yield hence higher output per hectare and this entails more returns. The decreased oil and protein contents of the seed at higher seed rates could be due to poor growth of plants. This must not be unconnected with the fact that rate beyond 5 kg ha-1 suffered high intra and inter plant competitions for growth resources. Thus, the superior yield at 5 kg ha-1 appeared to have been accounted by the high number of pods and seed yield/plant which is synonymous to increased output. Similar results were reported by (Malik et al., 2003) [4] and (Duncan., 1955) [1] The interaction between sowing method and seed rate on number of pods and seed yield per hectare was an indication of differential response of sesame to seed rate irrespective to sowing methods. Highest yield/ha was obtained at 5 kg ha-1 seed rate for all the sowing methods. This could have resulted from higher inter and intra plant competitions for moisture, light and nutrients beyond optimum plant population. The work of Malik et al., 2003 [4] Singh et al., 2013 [5] and Kamble et al., 2015 [3] gave a similar result.

References

1. Duncan DB. Multiple range and multiple F-test. Biometrics. 1955;2:1-42.
2. FAOSTAT. Sesame yield and productivity. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2012. Available from: http://faostat3.fao.org/compare/E. Accessed 2015 Feb 24.
3. Kamble DR, Jadhav PB, Nagrare IM. Effect of nutrient and terminal clipping on growth and yield of summer sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.). Green Farming. 2015;6(4):721-725.
4. Malik AM, Farouk MS, Mumtaz AC, Sharmin A. Influence of different nitrogen levels on productivity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under varying planting patterns. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology. 2003;4:490-492.
5. Singh B, Singh S, Kumar V, Kumar Y. Nitrogen and nipping schedule for higher productivity of sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) on aridisols of South-Western Haryana. Haryana Journal of Agronomy. 2013;29(1&2):1-5.
6. Weiss EA. Sesame. In: Oilseed Crops. 2nd ed. London: Blackwell Science; 2000. p. 1-109.