Effect of sulphur and zinc fertilization on productivity and economics of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner, Jaipur (Rajasthan) during kharif season of 2018 to study the effect of sulphur and zinc fertilization on productivity and economics of sesame. The experiment comprising of four levels each of sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg/ha) and zinc (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg zinc sulphate/ha), thereby making 16 treatment combinations was laid out in factorial randomized block design and replicated thrice. Results showed that progressive increase in level of sulphur up to 30 kg/ha significantly increased the most of the yield attributing characters of sesame viz., number of capsules/plant, number of seeds/capsule and test weight over preceding levels. It also recorded significantly higher seed yield (712 kg/ha) of sesame over control and 15 kg/ha and found at par with 45 kg/ha. Result further showed that every increase in level of zinc sulphate up to 20 kg/ha by and large significantly improved most of the yield determining characters of sesame over lower levels. It also recorded significantly higher seed yield (725 kg/ha) over control and 10 kg/ha and found at par with 30 kg/ha. The results further showed that according to economic and marginal analysis, progressive increase in level of sulphur upto 30 kg S ha-1 and zinc 20 kg Zn ha-1 seemed highly practical due to higher net returns, benefit cost ratio (BCR) and optimum dose of sulphur and zinc for sesame crop were computed as 39.24 kg S ha-1 and 26.30 kg Zn ha-1, respectively.