| Sesame Basic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| print the page Introduction
India, China, Sudan, Mexico, Turkey, Burma and Pakistan are the important sesame producing countries. Sesame is grown mainly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Karnataka. In the remaining states it is grown only on a small area and hence is a very minor crop there. Sesame is basically a crop of the warm regions of the tropics and subtropics and grows in the plains and at elevations up to 1,200 m. A temperature of 25-27°C encourages rapid germination, initial growth and flower formation. Low temperatures at flowering can result in the production of sterile pollen, or pre-mature flower drop. Sesame is extremely susceptible to water logging and heavy continuous rains. Sesame is susceptible to hail damage at all stages of growth. It can also not stand frost, continued heavy rain or prolonged drought. The proper time for planting of sesame under northern Indian conditions is last week of June to first week of July. A range of 25-27 Degree Celsius temperature is suitable for its proper germination. In South India sowing time during Kharif season may vary from May to July and for Rabi season from October to November. Sesame can be grown on a wide variety of soils provided they are well-drained, but it thrives best on sandy loam with adequate soil moisture. Very sandy, alkaline and acidic soils are not suitable for its cultivation. Soils with a neutral reaction are preferred, but good results have been obtained on both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils. The crop will grow well in soils having a pH reaction in the range of 5.5 to 8.0. It can also be grown on loams and heavy clay loams, which are well-drained. Kharif sesame is grown both as pure and mixed crop. In north India Sesame is generally grown mixed with arhar, jowar, bajra, groundnut, cotton and maize crops. A crop of linseed, gram, barley, lentil, etc. follows a pure crop of sesame in rabi season. As the seeds of sesame are very small in size, the field must be prepared very well for good germination. The seedbed should be fine, firm and compact. Usually, one ploughing followed by two to three harrowing followed by planking brings the field in good condition for planting. The sesame crop should be sown in lines. A spacing of 45 cm should be maintained between rows and 15 cm between plants. For planting one hectare, for the uniform distribution, seeds should be mixed with dry soil or sand or powdered farm yard manure. The depth of sowing should not be more than 2-3 cm. There should be enough moisture in the soil at the time of sowing. It is advisable to treat the seed before sowing with Agrosan G.N. or Ceresan at the rate of 2 g per kg of seed. Sesame is usually grown by small and marginal farmers on relatively poor soils with no manure, and this neglect is reflected in low average yields. A more common practice is to grow Sesame on the residual fertility of the preceding crop and apply whatever additional fertilizer can be spared. Application of 20-25 tonnes of compost or farm yard manure one month prior to sowing has given good results. For obtaining higher yields in addition to organic manure apply to 30 kg nitrogen, 60 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K2O per hectare. Application of nitrogen and phosphorus increases the number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsules. Apply the whole quantity of phosphorous and potash at the time of sowing. In sandy soils, apply the nitrogen in three splits and in heavy soils in two splits. In sandy soils apply one-third of nitrogen at the time of sowing, one-third 30 days after sowing and remaining one-third 50 days after sowing. In heavy soils two-third at sowing and one-third at flowering have given economic returns. Usually, there is no need to irrigate the crop but this crop is very susceptible to drought in various physiological growth stages. The crop requires about 50 cm of water during the entire growth period. Give first irrigation after 25-40 days of sowing. Second and third irrigation should be given at flowering and pod development stages, i.e., 45 to 50 and 65-70 days after sowing. Give light irrigation on a calm and windless evening to avoid lodging. It is considered essential to irrigate at, or just after, maximum flowering in order that capsules may develop fully. It is advisable to harvest the sesame crop, when leaves and capsules turn yellow and defoliation starts. The capsules at base of the plants mature first and then start maturing upwards. Plants should be harvested as and when they are yellowish-brown. They should not be allowed to stand dead ripe in the filed, otherwise there would be considerable loss due to shattering. After harvest, the bundles should be stocked erect on the threshing floor for five to seven days for drying and then threshed. (According to Crop Year)
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