Irrigation and nutrient management for yield augmentation of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.).

A field experiment was conducted during summer seasons of 2010 and 2011 at Bhubaneswar in a sandy loam soil to study the response of sesame to irrigation and nutrient management practices. Four levels of irrigation viz., IW/CPE 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 were allotted to the main plots and four fertility levels viz., 60 + 13.2 + 25kg N + P + K ha (RDF), 30 + 6.6 + 12.5 Kg N + P + K ha (50% RDF), 30 + 6.6 + 12.5 kg N + P + K ha with 5t ha FYM, and 5 t FYM ha alone to the sub plots in a split plot design with three replications. Yield attributes were higher for IW/CPE of 1.0 resulting in higher seed (808 kg ha) and oil (407 kg ha) yields and net returns (Rs.4258 ha) with consumptive use of 51.8 cm and water use efficiency of 15.7 kg/ha-cm. Integrated nutrition i.e. 50% RDF + 5 t FYM ha expressed better growth and yield attributes with the highest seed (874 kg ha) and oil (437 kg ha) yields, net return (Rs.4659 ha), consumptive use (53.6 cm) and water use efficiency (16.3 kg/ha-cm) and nutrient uptake (29.6kg N, 11.2 kg P and 29.9kg K ha). The crop irrigated at IW/CPE of 1.0 and supplied with 50% RDF + 5 t FYM ha produced maximum seed (916 kg ha and oil (464 kg ha) yields.