Enhancing the production potential of transplanted sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under a semi-arid environment

Field experiments were conducted during the winter seasons of 2021 to 2022 at the Research farm of V.O. Chidambaranar Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam, Tamil Nadu, Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu, to assess the suitable planting methods and optimize the age of seedlings to enhance the productivity and profitability of transplanted sesame. The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations having two planting methods (Ridge planting and Flat planting) and four ages of seedlings (12, 16, 20, and 24 days old seedling) along with line sowing (30 x 30 cm) as control were laid out in randomized block design(RBD) and replicated thrice. It may be inferred that ridge planting of 20 days sesame seedlings for transplanting practice gave significantly higher growth, yield parameters, and maximum yield viz., plant height (121.0 cm and 130.0 cm), LAI (4.16 and 4.26) and DMP (2765 kg ha-1 and 3010 kg ha-1 ), Number of branches plant-1 (9.1 and 9.8), number of capsules plant-1 (93.4 and 96.0), Number of seeds per capsule (55.2 and 56.0), seed yield (892 kg ha-1 and 910 kg ha-1 ) and B: C (2.59 and 2.65) as compared to all other treatment combinations. The findings emphasize the potential of this technique for enhancing the productivity of transplanted sesame, and it is profitable to the farmers of semi-arid regions of southern India.