Response of Sulfur and Zinc on growth and yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

The field experiment was entitled “ Response of Sulfur and Zinc on growth and yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) during Zaid 2022 at Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (UP). The soil of experimental plot was sandy loam in texture, nearly neutral in soil reaction (pH 7.3), low in organic carbon (0.57%), available N (230 kg/ha), available P (32.10 kg/ha) and available K (235 kg/ha). The treatments consist of three levels of Sulfur and three levels of Zinc foliar application. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with ten treatments each replicated thrice. The result showed that viz: Plant height (130.82 cm), number of branches per plant (4.89) and dry weight (13.41 g/plant) were recorded significantly higher with application of Sulfur 25 kg/ha + Zinc 0.5% foliar spray. Whereas, crop growth rate (10.93 g/m2/day) at 40-60 DAS interval and relative growth rate (0.106 g/g/day) at 20-40 DAS interval recorded significantly higher with application of Sulfur 25 kg/ha + zinc 0.5% foliar spray. Number of capsules per plant (28.25), number of seeds per capsule (46.88), test weight (2.80), seed yield (1235.01 kg/ha), stalk yield (2195.21 kg/ha) and harvest index (36.00%) were recorded significantly higher with the application of Sulfur 25 kg/ha + Zinc 0.5% foliar spray. Higher gross returns (98801INR/ha), net return (69555 INR/ha) and benefit cost ratio (2.37) was also obtained with application of Sulfur 25 kg/ha + Zinc 0.5% foliar spray.