Effect of integrated organic nutrient management (INM) practices on plant architecture and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of integrated organic nutrient management (INM) practices on plant architecture and yield of sesame under irrigated condition during summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 at farmer's field in Sirkali, Tamil Nadu. The experiment consisted of 12 treatment combinations viz., T1-Control, T2-Farm yard manure @ 12.5 t/ha+50% RDF, T3-Vermicompost @ 5 t/ha+50% RDF, T4-Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray)+50% RDF, T5-Dasagavya @ 3% (foliar spray)+50% RDF, T6-Amirthakaraisal @ 3% (foliar spray)+50% RDF, T7-T2+Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray), T8-T2 +Amirthakaraisal @ 3% (foliar spray), T9-T2 +Dasagavya @ 3% (foliar spray), T10-T3 + Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray), T11-T3 + Amirthakaraisal @ 3% (foliar spray) and T12-T3 + Dasagavya @ 3% (foliar spray) were tested in randomized block design with three replications. The study revealed that application of farm yard manure @ 12.5 t/ha+50% RDF + Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray) significantly increased the growth components of sesamum plant height (41.63, 75.04 and 116.50 cm), DMP (641.70, 1329.76 and 2763.16 kg/ha) at 30, 60 DAS and harvest stage, respectively. Similarly, the LAI (6.67) at flowering stage also recorded the highest in the same treatment and was followed by vermicompost @ 5 t/ha+50% RDF+Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray). The yield attributes like number of branches/plant (26.89), number of capsules/plant 44.82 and 125.01 at 60 DAS and harvest stage, respectively, number of seeds/capsule (83.69), 1000-seed weight (4.03 g) and seed yield (1013 kg/ha) were significantly increased with the application of farm yard manure @ 12.5 t/ha+50% RDF+Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray) followed by application of vermicompost @ 5 t/ha+50% RDF+Panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray). From the above study, it could be concluded that application of farm yard manure @ 12.5 t/ha+50% RDF + panchagavya @ 3% (foliar spray) was best suited for attaining higher seed yield with improved soil fertility over the long run.