EFFECT OF SULPHUR AND ZINC ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Field, Hajee Mohamed Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh during the period from May to August 2018 to find out the effect of sulphur and zinc on the growth and yield of sesame. The experiment was consisted of two factors. Factor A: three levels of sulphur viz., S1: (0 kg S/ ha) control, S2: (18 kg S/ ha) and S3: (24 kg S/ ha) and Factor B: three levels of zine viz., Zn1: (0 kg Zn/ ha) control, Zn2: (4 kg Zn/ ha) and Zn3: (8 kg Zn/ ha). The consisting of nine treatment combinations was laid out in randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications with maintaining 3m x 2m of unit plot. The replications were separated from one another by 1m. The distance between plots was 0.5m. The treatments were randomly distributed into the plots of each replication. Data were recorded on the plant height, fresh and dry weights (g) of leaf, petiole, stem, root and reproductive organ at vegetative growth of 20, 40 and 60 DAS. At harvesting time, data on the plant height (cm), branch number plant-1 , number of pods plant-1 , pod length (cm), total seeds pod-1 , 1000- seed weight (g), seed weight plant-1 (g), shell weight plant-1 (g), seed yield and stover yield were recorded. All the data were analyzed statistically (MSTAT-C program) and mean differences were adjudged by DMRT. The results indicates that sulphur significantly influenced the plant height, fresh and dry weight of sesame at different DAS and those growth traits were increased with the increment of sulphur. However, S at the rate of 18 kg ha-1 produced the tollest plant, the heighest fresh and dry weights of sesame at almost all observing dates. From the results it was found that sulphur had significant effect on the all yield contributing traits like plant height (cm), branch number plant-1 , number of pods plant-1 , pod length (cm), total seed pod-1 , 1000-seed weight (g), seed weight plant-1 (g), shell weight plant-1 (g), of sesame which ultimately enhanced the seed and stover yield of sesame. Nevertheless, application of gypsum @ 18 kg/ha more positively enhanced the yield traits as well as augmented the highest yield of sesame than the other sulphur treatment in this study. As like sulphur, application of zinc also influenced all the growth traits of sesame at different growth stages from 20 to 60 DAS. The results revealed that some of the studied parameters were significantly influenced by different zinc levels, but the effects of Zn was insignificant on some parameters at the early stage of plants such as plant height at 15 DAS, fresh and dry weight of leaves, stems and roots at 15 DAS, 30 DAS and 60 days of leaves showed no variation at all. Interaction effect of sulphur and zinc exhibited significant variation on the most of the studied growth and yield contributing characteristics viz. plant height, fresh and dry weight of different DAS, plant height, branch number plant-1 , number of pods plant-1 , pod length, total seed pod-1 , 1000-seed weight, seed weight plant-1 , shell weight plant-1 at the maturity stage. However, combined application of S2 and Zn2 with 18 kg/ha and 4 kg/ ha,respectively produced the highest seed and stover yields of sesame. Based on the information it may be concluded for the following the growth and yield attributes of sesame were highly positively influenced by the use of different levels of sulphur and zinc. However, the highest yield was found from the sulphur and zinc levels of 18 kg and 4 kg ha-1 , respectively. In combination of these two nutrients, 18 kg sulphur combined with 4 kg zinc sulphate/ha was the best treatment combination for maximizing yield of sesame. The finding may be recommended for the production of sesame under Dinajpur condition. But the experiment can be conducted in different regions of the country for recommendation on the regional basis and the response of the variety to the other fertilizer may also be investigated in future.