A field experiment was conducted during semi rabi season of 2022-23 at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, to study the effect of different sowing windows and nutrient levels on growth, yield and economics of semi rabi sesame under Central Vidharbha Region with two factors viz., four sowing windows [D1 (35th MW), D2 (36th MW), D3 (37th MW) and D4 (38th MW)] and three nutrient levels [N1 (75% RDF), N2 (100% RDF) and N3 (125% RDF)] with twelve treatment combinations. Crop sown during 35th MW (27th Aug- 2nd Sept) recorded significantly highest plant height, number of branches plant-1, dry matter accumulation plant-1, number of capsule plant-1, seed yield plant-1, seed and straw yield (kg ha-1). It also recorded highest gross as well as net monetary return and B:C ratio. Application of 125% RDF (31.25:31.25 Kg N:P ha-1) recorded highest values of all the growth and yield contributing characters. Similarly, significantly higher values of gross and net monetary return and B:C ratio were recorded with application of 125% RDF as compare to 75% and 100% RDF.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) which is known variously as til, sisim, benniseed, sesame hawari etc. is one of the most important oil seed crops grown extensively in India. Sesame is the oldest indigenous oil plant with longest history of its cultivation in India. The oils are major components of human diet. Sesame oil is used for culinary purpose, in confectionery, healthcare industry and other purpose. Omega-6 fatty acid desaturase also got from sesame which is helpful for heart patients (Jin and Chung 2001).

India ranks first in area (45%), production (32%) and export (40%) of sesame in the world. The total area of sesame in India during 2020-21 was 17.22 lakh hectare with total production of 8.16 lakh tonnes and productivity was 474 kg ha-1 (Anonymous, 2021). In Maharashtra, the total area of sesame during 2021 was 28 thousand hectare with total production of 6.3 lakh and productivity was 227 kg ha-1 (Anonymous, 2021). The major growing districts of sesame in Maharashtra are Jalgaon, Nashik, Dhule, Pune and Solapur. Nagpur and Amravati revenue divisions are the most important sesame growing areas in Vidharbha region of Maharashtra state. Sesame yield is highly variable depending upon the growing environment and nutrient levels. Sesame, being a neglected crop now days, farmers are not very much keen to apply fertilizers to this crop, although it gives a good response to the added fertilizer. In view of above the present investigation is planned to evaluate the response of semi rabi sesame to different sowing windows and nutrient levels.

A field experiment was conducted during semi rabi season of 2022-23 at Agronomy Farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, Maharashtra state, India. The field was fairly uniform and leveled. Soil of the experimental site was clay in texture, medium in available nitrogen, low in available phosphorous and rich in available potash. Organic carbon content was medium and soil reaction was slightly alkaline. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two factors i.e. four sowing dates [D1 (35th MW), D2 (36th MW), D3 (37th MW) and D4 (38th MW)] as main plot treatment and three nutrient levels [N1 (75% RDF), N2 (100% RDF) and N3 (125% RDF)] as sub plot treatment, thus making twelve treatment combinations, replicated thrice. The distance between two replications was 1.00 m and distance between two plots was 0.60 m. The gross and net plot size were 3.6 m × 5.0 m and 3.0 m × 4.5 m, respectively.

Research trial on semi rabi Sesame, College of Agriculture, Nagpur was sown manually, keeping 30 cm distance between the rows. Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits, while entire phosphorus was applied as basal dose. The data on growth and yield were recorded as per the standard procedure.

A. Growth attributes

Sowing windows significantly influenced the different growth characters viz., plant height, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation plant-1. All the above growth characteristics were higher when crop sown during 35th MW during all growth stages. Higher plant height (109.12 cm), number of branches plant-1 (4.73) and dry matter accumulation plant-1 (29.74 g) in 35th MW might be due to congenial climatic condition like moisture, temperature and other weather parameters coincided with the growth stages of semi rabi sesame. These results are in close agreement with the findings of Gade (2012); Muneshwar et al. (2019).

Fertilizer application also influenced the plant height, number of branches plant-1 and dry matter accumulation  plant-1 significantly. Highest plant height (110.50 cm) was recorded with application of 125% RDF which was significantly superior to 100% and 75% RDF. Similarly, application of 125% RDF recorded significantly highest branches plant-1 (4.75) and dry matter accumulation plant-1 (29.67 g). Higher amount of nitrogen and phosphorus might have resulted into more activities of meristematic tissues of the plant, increased cell size and cell number, which ultimately might have probably resulted into increased growth attributes. Similar results were also obtained by Kushwaha (2013).

B. Yield attributes

Yield attributing characters viz; number of capsule plant-1 (33.74), seed yield plant-1 (4.22 g) along with seed yield (866.34 kg ha-1) and straw yield (2557 kg  ha-1) were also highest when the crop sown during 35th MW. The weather conditions prevailed during the growth and development of crop sown during 35th MW might be favorable for the crop which might have resulted in production of more number of branches plant-1 providing more sites for reproductive structure viz., number of capsules plant-1, number of seed capsule-1. These findings are similar with Raut et al. (2020); Yisa et al. (2023).

Various fertilizer levels also affected the yield attributing characters of semi rabi sesame. Number of capsule plant-1 (32.92), seed yield plant-1 (4.08 g), seed yield (883.17 kg ha-1) and straw yield (2510 kg ha-1) was maximum with application of 125% RDF, which was significantly superior over application of 100% and 75% RDF. The results obtained in the present study are supported by the works of Patel et al. (2015).

C. Economics

Highest gross and net monetary returns of Rs. 69307 ha-1 and Rs. 49475 ha-1 respectively, were recorded during 35th MW which was superior over later sowing windows. In case of fertilizer application, highest gross monetary returns of Rs. 70653 ha-1 and net monetary returns of Rs. 50388 ha-1 were recorded with application of 125% RDF. Highest B:C ratio of 3.49 was recorded during 35th MW and application of 125% RDF also recorded highest B:C ratio of 3.48. The results are in conformity with the findings of Shinde et al. (2014).

The interaction effect between different sowing windows and nutrient levels was not significant in respect of growth attributes, yield and economics of semi rabi sesame.

Table 1: Growth, yield and economics of semi rabi sesame as influenced by    different sowing windows and nutrient levels.

Sowing window of 35th MW (27th Aug- 2nd Sept) resulted in higher growth and yield of semi rabi sesame compared to later sowing windows during semi rabi season. Application of 125% RDF recorded higher growth and yield attributes than other lower nutrient level, 125% RDF recorded higher grain and straw yield ha-1.

The present findings are based on one year research and needs further 1 or 2 years experimentation for validation of influence of sowing windows and nutrient level on semi rabi sesame.

N.D. Chavhan, A.A. Choudhary, T. Lokesh  and T.R. Marthe (2024). Performance of Semi Rabi Sesame to Different Sowing Windows and Nutrient Levels under Central Vidharbha Region. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(1): 271-273.