Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth and Yields of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) at Lower Gangetic Alluvial Zone of West Bengal

Aims: To study the effect of organic manures and chemical fertilizers on growth and yields of Sesame.

Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted in lower Gangetic alluvial soils of West Bengal at agricultural experimental farm of University of Calcutta, Baruipur, South 24 Parganas during summer season of 2021.

Methodology: The field experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments replicated thrice and the variety used was Sabitri. The treatments were: NPK@ 50:30:25+ Manganese Sulphate (5 kg/ hectare) (T1), FYM + NPK @ 35:23:23 (T2), NPK @ 21:23:23+ Seed treatment with Azospirillum (600 g/ha) + Phosphobacteria (600 g/ha) (T3), Seed treatment with turmeric powder @ 10 gm/kg, Soil application of Organic Amendment with FYM and Neem cake @150 kg/ha (1:1), Untreated check (T5), Application of soil ment (11.12 kg/ha) (T6), Application of Humic acid (3.6 kg/ha) (T7), Application of sea weed (2 ml/l of water) (T8), A uniform dose of FYM was applied to all the plots as basal.

Results: Maximum plant height (93.45 cm), dry matter accumulation (104.19 g/m2) and LAI (4.77), Length of capsule (3.38 cm), no. of capsule/plant (64.6), no. of seeds/capsule (77.62), grain yield (930.12 kg/ha) and straw yield (2676.97 kg/ha) were recorded from the application of NPK @ 21:23:23+ Seed treatment with Azospirillum (600 g/ha) + Phosphobacteria (600 g/ha) (T3).

Conclusion: The result of the present study revealed that integrated application of NPK along with biofertilizers [NPK @ 21:23:23 + Seed treatment with Azospirillum (600 g/ha) + Phosphobacteria (600 g/ha)] gave higher growth attributes, yield attributes and yield.