Growth and yield parameters of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as influenced by drip irrigation levels and water soluble fertilizer

Introduction

One of the most significant and ancient edible oilseeds is sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) crops and is valued globally for its high oil content (50%) and protein content (25%). Despite its economic importance, sesame yields in India remain low due to poor nutrient management, limited irrigation, and cultivation under rainfed conditions. Water scarcity is increasing due to climate change and competition among sectors, making efficient irrigation technologies essential. Micro-irrigation systems, particularly drip irrigation, improve water distribution, reduce losses, and enhance crop productivity through precise moisture regulation. Fertigation using water-soluble fertilizers (WSF) allows uniform, efficient nutrient availability in the root zone. Although sesame is known for drought tolerance, its response to precise irrigation and fertigation is not well documented for summer conditions in Gujarat. Therefore, the present study was attempted to assess the impacts of drip irrigation levels and WSF on growth and yield parameters of summer sesame.

Materials and Methods

"Response of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) to drip irrigation levels and water soluble fertilizer" was conducted in the summer of 2023 and 2024 at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, on clayey and somewhat alkaline soil. Four replications and a split plot design were used to set up the experiment. There were twelve treatment combinations. The primary plot treatments are drip irrigation at 0.6 PEF (I 1 ), drip irrigation at 0.8 PEF (I 2 ), drip irrigation at 1.0 PEF (I 3 ), and surface irrigation at 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (I 4 ). The subplot comprises three levels of water soluble fertilizer: 100% RDF through F 1 , 80% RDF through F 2 , and 60% RDF through F 3 (RDF for sesame is 50-25-40 N, P 2 O 5 , and K 2 O kg/ha). The sesame (GJT 5) was grown with adopting recommended package of practices. The soil in the experimental plot had a clayey texture, a medium amount of organic carbon (0.60 and 0.59% in 2023 and 2024, respectively), and a slightly alkaline reaction (pH 7.9 and 8.

Results and Discussion

The data regarding plant height at harvest (Table 1) showed that significantly maximum plant height of 73.90, 70.68 and 72.29 cm were recorded under drip irrigation scheduled at 1.0 PEF (I 3 ) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results, respectively which was found statistically at par with drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results. Significantly lower plant height of 66.60, 58.75 and 62.67 cm were detected with drip irrigation at 0.6 PEF (I 1 ) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled findings, respectively. The data presented in Table 2 indicated that there was a notable impact of drip irrigation schedules on dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results. Notably, the maximum dry matter/plant of 16.57, 16.02 and 16.29 g/plant was recorded at harvest under drip irrigation scheduled at 1.0 PEF (I 3 ) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results, respectively. However, it continued to be on par with treatment I 2 (drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 PEF) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results, respectively. Whereas, significantly lower dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest of 14.60, 14.03 and 14.31 g was noted with drip irrigation scheduled at 0.6 PEF (I 1 ) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results, respectively. The data (Table 1) clearly indicated that different water soluble fertilizer levels produced their significant effect on plant height at harvest. The higher plant height of 72.61, 68.41 and 70.51 cm were recorded when crop was fertilized with 100% WSF through drip fertigation during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results which was statistically at par with 80% RDF during 2023 and 2024. Significantly lower plant height of 67.95, 61.28 and 64.61 cm were recorded when crop was fertilized with 60% RDF (F 3 ) through drip fertigation during individual years and in pooled results, respectively. It was revealed from the results presented in Table 2 on dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest that different water soluble fertilizer levels produced their significant effect on dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest. The treatment F 1 (100% RDF through drip fertigation) recorded higher dry matter accumulation/plant of 16.26, 16.01 and 16.13 g/plant being at par with treatment F 2 (80% RDF) during both the years and in pooled results, respectively. Minimum dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest of 14.52, 13.64 and 14.08 g was observed under the treatment F 3 (60% RDF) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results, accordingly. The interaction impact between drip irrigation schedules and water soluble fertilizer levels (I x F) on dry matter accumulation/plant at harvest was found to be significant during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results ( An appraisal of data reported in Table 6 suggested that different water soluble fertilizer levels exhibited their considerable influence on seed yield during the year 2023, 2024 and in pooled results. When the crop was fertilized with 100% RDF using drip fertigation, significantly higher seed yields of 1432, 1382, and 1408 kg/ha were recorded in 2023, 2024, and in pooled data, respectively (F 1 ). However, it was found at par with 80% RDF (F 2 ) applied through drip fertigation during both the years and in pooled findings, respectively. On the contrary, application of 60% RDF using drip fertigation (F 3 ) showed considerably minimum seed yield of 1287, 1235 and 1261 kg/ha during 2023, 2024 and in pooled findings, respectively. Results presented in Table 10 indicated that water soluble fertilizer levels significantly influenced stalk yield during the year 2023, 2024 and in pooled analysis. Fertigation level F 1 (i.e. 100% RDF through drip fertigation) recorded considerably higher stalk yield of 1697, 1677 and 1687 kg/ha during 2023, 2024 and in pooled findings, respectively which was at par with F 2 (i.e. 80% RDF through drip fertigation) during 2023, 2024 and in pooled results. Application of 60% RDF through drip fertigation (F 3 ) produced considerably minimal stalk yield of 1520, 1468 and 1494 kg/ha during 2023, 2024 and in pooled findings, respectively. Drip irrigation schedules and water soluble fertilizer levels (I x F) had a substantial interaction effect on seed output in 2023 and 2024, as well as in pooled results (Tables 7,8, and 9). Application of irrigation through drip at 0.8 PEF and fertilized the crop with 80% RDF through drip fertigation (I 2 F 2 ) produced significantly greatest seed yield of 1696 kg/ha during 2023 which was remained statistically at par with treatment combination I 2 F 1 , I 3 F 1 and I 3 F 2 (Table 7). A notably low seed production of 1095 kg/ha was obtained when drip irrigation was applied at 0.6 PEF and the crop was treated with 60% RDF (I 1 F 3 ). In 2024, applying drip irrigation at 0.8 PEF and fertilizing the crop with 80% RDF via drip fertigation (I 2 F 2 ) resulted in a maximum seed production of 1685 kg/ha (Table 8), which was comparable to I 3 F 1 . Applying drip irrigation at 0.6 PEF and feeding the crop with 60% RDF resulted in a notably low seed production of 993 kg/ha (I 1 F 3 ). Application of irrigation through drip at 0.8 PEF and fertilized the crop with 80% RDF through drip fertigation (I 2 F 2 ) produced significantly higher seed yield of 1690 kg/ha on pooled data basis (Table 9) and which was remained statistically at par with treatment combination I 3 F 1 . Significantly decreased seed production of 1044 kg/ha was obtained with drip irrigation set at 0.6 PEF and application of 60% RDF. In 2023 and 2024, as well as in pooled results, the interaction impact between drip irrigation schedules and water soluble fertilizer levels (I x F) on stalk yield was shown to be significant (Table 11, 12, and 13). Significantly greatest stalk production of 1869 kg/ha during 2023 (Table 11) was obtained with irrigating the crop through drip at 0.8 PEF and fertilizing the crop with 80% RDF through drip fertigation (I 2 F 2 ) and it was found on par with I 1 F 1 , I 2 F 1 , I 3 F 1 , I 3 F 2 and I 3 F 3 . The treatment combination I 1 F 3 recorded significantly lower stalk yield of 1234 kg/ha. Application of drip irrigation at 0.8 PEF and fertilizing the crop with 80% RDF through drip fertigation (Table 12) recorded significantly maximum stalk yield of 1926 kg/ha during 2024 and it was remained at par with I 2 F 1 and I 3 F 1 . Significantly lower stalk of 1236 kg/ha was produced under the treatment combination I 1 F 3 .Significantly maximum stalk yield of 1898 kg/ha on pooled data basis was recorded with irrigating the crop through drip at 0.8 PEF and fertilizing the sesame with 80% RDF through drip fertigation I 2 F 2 (Table 13) which was found at par with drip at 1.0 PEF and 100% RDF (I 3 F 1 ). Treatment combination I 1 F 3 recorded significantly lower stalk yield of 1235 kg/ha.

Discussion

Growth Parameters

The functional behaviour of water in relation to photosynthesis process occurring in the plant may likely increase in plant height with increased irrigation frequency. Therefore, the plant's moisture status and cycles are directly related to the amount of water available in the soil as well as its capacity for absorption. Reduced water availability also causes the stomata to remain closed, which hinders photosynthesis and eventually crop growth. The fact that higher irrigation frequency increased nutrient availability and consequently, nutrient uptake, which in turn improved sesame growth, further findings supports the response of various drip irrigation levels in terms of overall improvement in growth parameters. Similar results were obtained by Damdar et al. (2015) in sesame, Chauhan et al.

(2016) [2] , Khadse et al. (2017) [9] and Fadadu and Shrivastava (2020) [4] . Scheduling drip irrigation at 1.0 PEF had substantial improvement in dry matter/plant at different growth stages of sesame seems to an account of better vegetative growth which is well reflected by rise in plant height. It is an established fact that the soil water deficiency affects leaf expansion and stem elongation in plants through its reduction of relative turgidity. Under lower drip irrigation at 0.6 PEF, reduced water supply also results in stomata closing, which elevates plant temperatures and increases respiration. This leads to a higher breakdown of assimilates, poor development, and decreased dry matter accumulation. Kamble et al. (2017) [7] , Khadse et al.

(2017) [9] , and Karthika and Ramanathan (2019) [8] also reported similar results A higher RDF rate resulted in taller plants, which may have beneficial effects on sesame plant height due to improved photosynthate formation and stem partitioning. The reason for the rise in plant height with increasing fertigation level could be attributed to improved nutrient availability, improved root uptake and an increase in internode and internodal distance. Thus, on the basis of the roles played by these nutrients, it could easily be envisaged that their direct or indirect engagement in cell division, cell enlargement and tissue as well as organ formation would be predicted to result in improvement in these structures. Consequently, this leads to an increase in sesame growth. Jain and Meena (2015) [10] , Solanki et al. (2022) [11] , Navdeep et al. (2023) [13] , and Sharma and Thakral (2023) [12] all found similar findings. The improvement in the dry matter production which could be ascribed to the increase in plant growth (i.e. plant height and number of branches) and cumulative effect of all these parameters on yield attributes. Instant assimilation of nutrients supplied through the soil meeting the required nutrient demand of the crop during growth period of sesame. These results are in line with the findings of Jain and Meena (2015) [10] , Jamdhade et al. (2017) [5] Navdeep et al. 2023 [13] and Sharma and Thakral (2023) [12] .

Seed Yield and Stalk Yield

The greater seed yield might be attributable to the maintenance of adequate soil moisture within the root zone during the crop growth cycle, which facilitated efficient uptake of water and nutrients. Increased photosynthate synthesis and its efficient transfer towards the sink were the results of this favorable moisture situation, which also increased vegetative growth, especially plant height. Consequently, this resulted to better dry matter accumulation and improvement in yield attributing metrics such as the number of capsules per plant and seeds per capsule, thereby contributing to enhanced seed output. Tripathy and Bastia (2012) [14] , Chauhan et al. (2016) [2] , Khadse et al.

(2017) [9] , and Ranjitha et al. (2018) [15] have reported similar results. Lower seed output was reported under deficit drip irrigation set at 0.6 PEF; might be related to moisture stress leading to reduced test weight, no. of capsules and no. of seeds/capsule. The degree to which planned drip irrigation at 1.0 PEF (I3) has raised sesame stalk yield may be attributed to the beneficial effects of irrigation on plant growth, and since sesame is highly sensitive to water and nutrients, the sesame crop may have responded favorably to the higher irrigation applied through drip. The availability and maintenance of higher soil moisture in the root zone over the crop season were enhanced by the irrigation level. This resulted in higher relative leaf water content, which in turn led to the development of yield components and seed and stalk yields. The available moisture content drops as water tension rises, requiring those roots to work harder to extract water from the soil particles. enhanced seed and stalk yields were the result of ideal crop development conditions created by the enhanced irrigation, which never caused water stress. This may be attributed under more favorable soil moisture availability, greater vegetative development; more dry matter production resulting in higher biological yield as compared to less often irrigation schedule treatments. Kamble et al. (2017) [7] , Khadse et al. (2017) [9] , Ranjitha et al. (2018) [15] , and Rojh et al. (2022) [16] all reported similar reactions. Increased nutrient intake brought about by a higher solubility percentage of WSF tends to improve photosynthate generation and their effective transfer for the growth of reproductive parts. Under 100% WSF, the yield components number of capsules, number of seeds per capsule, and 1000 grain weight were higher. Jain and Meena (2015) [10] , Deepthi et al. (2018) [3] , Solanki et al. (2022) [11] , and Navdeep et al. (2023) [13] all found similar findings The increase in stalk yield under higher fertigation might be attributed to build-up of soil fertility, which enhanced nutrient availability and accelerated the processes of cell division, enlargement, and elongation. This, in turn, promoted vigorous vegetative growth, resulting in higher stalk yield in sesame. In addition to that water soluble fertilizers could improve the decrease leaching and improve nutrient utilization by applying less fertilizer to the soil. Consequently, the yield is high. The current results closely align with Batta's conclusions. (2020) [1] , Jajoo (2022) [6] and Solanki (2022) [11] in case of soil and foliar application.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of two years of experimentation, it can be concluded that in order to achieve higher seed and stalk yields sesame should receive two common surface irrigations (one immediately after sowing and the other seven days after the first irrigation) at a depth of 50 mm. This should be followed by drip irrigation at 0.8 PEF (operating pressure: 1.2 kg/cm-2 and lateral spacing: 60 cm) on alternate days for 59 minutes. The crop should be fertilized with 80% RDF using water soluble fertilizer, with four equal splits at intervals of 15 DAS.

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