Effect of Different Water Levels on Growth Performance of Sesame(Sesamum indicum L.) in Paddy Field Soil

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the change in the morphological and physiological characteristics within sesame plant when subjected by regulating water levels. The experiment was conducted at ground water level(GWL) 0, 20, and 40 cm in a paddy field soil. The results showed that sesame growth characteristics, such as shoot length, stem thickness, leaf length, and leaf width were significantly higher in sesame at GWL 0 cm at 10 days after treatment(DAT) and 20 DAT than in those grown at a GWL of 40 cm. The shoot length and stem thickness of sesame grown at a GWL of 20 cm was significantly higher than those grown at a GWL of 40 at 10 DAT. The chlorophyll content was significantly lower in plants grown at a GWL 40 cm at 10 and 20 DAT over sesame grown in GWL of 0 and 20 cm. The stomatal conductance remained consistent in all the GWL at overall time period. Moreover, the Ca content of sesame was reduced in both GWL 40 cm and 20 cm at 10 DAT and 20 DAT as compared to GWL 0 cm. The K content was increased at 10 DAT but was reduced at 20 DAT at both GWL 20 cm and GWL 40 cm over plant grown at GWL 0 cm. Likewise, the P content was decreased at 10 DAT in both GWL 20 and GWL 40 cm but was significantly increased at 20 DAT in GWL 20 cm as compared to plant at GWL 0 cm. Since the experimental soil is paddy field soil these results helps to understand the efficiency of sesame to tolerate the different stress levels of soil moisture. Therefore, these research may help to predict the appropriate level of irrigation to be provided at different time period for the sesame if it is grown in rice field as a commercial crops.