Response of sesamum to water management practices under varying levels of nitrogen

Abstract

A field experiment on sesamum (Sesamum indicum) with five water management practices (No irrigation and irrigation at 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 IW/CPE ratios and at critical stages of 3-4 leaf stage, branching, flowering and pod formation) and four nitrogen levels (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg N/ha) was conducted in the sandy loam soil of the Agronomic Research Station, Chalakudy during the three summer seasons of 1983, 1985 and 1986. Irrigating sesamum with 40 mm water at the critical stages of 3 - 4 leaf stage, branching, flowering and pod formation or at 0.75 IW/CPE ratio (at an approximate interval of 13 days) resulted in significant higher grain yield as compared to unirrigated or less frequently irrigated crops. The response to nitrogen application up to 45 kg/ha was linear in nature having no interaction effect with water management practices. However, the yields of grain at 30 and 45 kg/ha of nitrogen were comparable.