Effect of deficit and optimum irrigation at various growth stages on growth and yield of summer sesame

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College, PJTSAU, Polasa, Jagtial during summer 2021 to study the “Effect of deficit and optimum irrigation at various growth stages on growth, yield, quality and water requirement of summer sesame”. The study was aimed at identifying optimum soil moisture stress for summer sesame and thereby determining appropriate irrigation schedule under both optimum and limited water resources. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments (T1 to T8) and replicated thrice. Treatments comprised of 2 irrigations each at vegetative and flowering stages (T1), 2 irrigations each at vegetative and capsule filling stages (T2), 2 irrigations each at flowering and capsule filling stages (T3), 3 irrigations each at vegetative, flowering and capsule filling stages (T4), 3 irrigations each at vegetative, prebloom and capsule filling stages (T5), 4 irrigations each at vegetative, prebloom, flowering and capsule filling stages (T6), 4 irrigations each at vegetative, flowering, capsule initiation and capsule filling stages (T7) and 5 irrigations each at vegetative, prebloom, flowering, capsule initiation and capsule filling stages (T8). Irrigation scheduled at five stages i.e., vegetative, prebloom, flowering, capsule initiation and capsule filling stages resulted in significantly higher plant height (113.3 cm) and dry matter accumulation (203.9 g m-2). First capsule was formed at a height of 23 cm in T8. Yield attributes like number of capsules plant-1 (45), capsule weight (0.32 g) and number of filled seeds capsule-1 (55) were higher in treatment provided with 5 irrigations each at vegetative, prebloom, flowering, capsule initiation and capsule filling stages (T8). Higher seed yield (1150 kg ha-1) was also recorded in T8.