INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SESAME (Sesamum indicum) IN RED AND LATERITIC SOILS OF WEST BENGAL

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on sesame during summer season of 2015 in red and lateritic soils of West Bengal at the Agricultural Farm of Palli Siksha Bhavana (Institute of Agriculture), Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan to study the effect of combined application of macro- and micronutrient fertilizers and biofertilizers i.e. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on yield, nutrient uptake, soil fertility status along with microbial population in Sesame. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design. Highest grain yield (7.9 q ha-1), stover yield (24.5 q ha-1), biological yield (32.4 q ha-1) and harvest index (28.8%) of sesame was registered where higher doses of sulphur along with other inorganic fertilizers (N40P40K40S45Zn21Mo2.0) were applied. The uptake of NPK by sesame increased with integrated application of Azospirillium and combined application of micronutrients with macronutrients (N40P40K40 Zn10.5 Mo1B1.0S30+Azospirillium). Highest S uptake, oil content, oil yield, protein content and protein yield of sesame was associated with sulphur @ 45kg ha-1 along with macronutrients and micronutrients. Higher population of Azospirillium was registered in post harvest soil treated with Azospirillium along with sulphur, micro and macronutrients treated plots.