Effect of Sowing Method and Nitrogen Rate on Growth and Yield Performance of Sesame in a Saline Soil of Southwestern Coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Inspection Centre (RIC), Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Gollamari, Khulna to study the effect of sowing methods and nitrogen rates on the growth and yield attributes of sesame (BARI Til-6). The experiment comprised of three methods of sowing viz. broadcasting, line sowing and dibbling and four nitrogen levels viz. 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha⁻¹ as treatments variables. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicating thrice. Data were collected on plant height (cm), number of branches plant⁻¹, days to first flowering, height of first capsule (cm), capsule length (cm), capsule width (cm), number of capsules plant⁻¹, number of seeds capsule⁻¹, number of seeds plant⁻¹, 1000-seed weight (g), seed weight plant⁻¹ (g), stover weight plant⁻¹ (g) and harvest index (%). For sowing methods, the maximum plant height (60.90 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (2.36), capsule width (0.89 cm), number of capsules plant⁻¹ (13.03), number of seeds capsule⁻¹ (52), number of seeds plant⁻¹ (708.33), seed weight plant⁻¹ (1.99 g), stover weight plant⁻¹ (4.12 g), harvest index (31.10%) and initiation of flowering (35.16 days) was obtained from line sowing method. The lowest plant height (54.85) and seed capsule⁻¹ (49.98) were found in broadcasting whereas the lowest number of branches plant⁻¹ (1.93), capsule length (1.74 cm), capsule width (0.74 cm), number of capsules plant⁻¹ (9.48), number of seeds plant⁻¹ (497.52), seed weight plant⁻¹ (1.39 g), stover weight plant⁻¹ (3.66 g), harvest index (27.05 %) were obtained from dibbling method. Among the rates of nitrogen, 45 kg N ha⁻¹ resulted in the highest plant height (69.99 cm), number of branches plant⁻¹ (2.91), capsule length (1.98 cm), capsule width (0.93 cm), number of capsules plant⁻¹ (16.55) number of seeds capsule⁻¹ (59.15), number of seeds plant⁻¹ (982.42), seed weight plant⁻¹ (2.81 g), stover weight plant⁻¹ (5.50 g) and harvest index (33.60%). Interaction between sowing methods and nitrogen rates significantly influenced all growth and yield attributes except 1000-seed weight (g) and capsule width. The Lowest results were found from combination of sowing methods with control treatments. From the findings of the present study, it can be suggested that line sowing with 45 kg N ha⁻¹ may be followed for the cultivation of sesame (BARI Til-6) in the coastal soil of southwestern Bangladesh.