Sesame Response to Nitrogen Management under Coarse Textured Soils of Sami Arid Region

Sesame is mainly cultivated under traditional, low-input agro-systems. However, Adequate application of nitrogenous fertilizers not only improves the crop yield but also maintains soil N status and thus sustains productivity. The experiment was carried out during the kharif season 2015 to 2017 in a randomized block design with four replications. There were five graded levels of nitrogen application viz.,0, 30, 37.5, 45 and 60 kg N ha-1. In coarse-textured, low-nitrogen status soil with an average nitrogen content of 106.45 kg/ha, the study found that sesame seed yield increased significantly with nitrogen application up to 45 kg N/ha.The increase in mean seed yield was 19.23, 24.52, 39.26, and 41.18 percent and in mean stalk yield was 19.59, 23.81, 30.62, and 34.64 percent due to the application of 0, 30, 37.5, 45, and 60 kg N/ha, respectively over control. The mean N-uptake also increased with N application. The mean N-use efficiency varied from 43.10 to 52.38 percent being the maximum (52.38 %) with the application of 45 kg N/ha. The mean post-harvest available N status was 105.43, 107.51, 108.11, 109.15, and 110.23 kg/ha at 0, 30, 37.5, 45 and 60 N/ha, respectively. The economic data analysis revealed that the benefit-cost ratio also increased with nitrogen application and was 0.93, 1.10, 1.15, 1.27, and 1.28 at 0,30, 37.5, 45 and 60 kg N/ha, respectively. Application of 45 kg N/ha was optimum for the cultivation of sesame crop yield, soil N fertility status, and economics under coarse textured low nitrogen status soils.