Response of Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) to Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield

Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.), popularly known as the "queen of oilseeds," is an important oilseed crop valued for its high-quality edible oil and nutritional significance. However, its productivity in India remains low due to poor soil fertility and imbalanced nutrient management. Therefore, a field experiment entitled "Response of Sesamum (Sesamum indicum L.) to Integrated Nutrient Management" was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025–26 at the Research Farm of Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with three replications and eleven nutrient management treatments comprising different combinations of inorganic fertilizers, vermicompost, biogas slurry, and poultry manure. The sesamum variety RT-346 was used for the study. Observations on growth, yield attributes, seed yield, stalk yield, harvest index, nutrient uptake, oil content, and economics were recorded and analyzed statistically. The results revealed that integrated application of nutrient sources significantly influenced crop productivity. The treatment receiving 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) through chemical fertilizers + 25% RDN through vermicompost recorded the highest seed yield (1283 kg ha⁻¹) and stalk yield (3345 kg ha⁻¹), which remained at par with treatments involving integrated use of chemical fertilizers and organic manures. The lowest seed yield (543 kg ha⁻¹) and stalk yield (746 kg ha⁻¹) were recorded under 100% RDN supplied through biogas slurry alone. Harvest index was not significantly affected by different nutrient management treatments. The superior performance of integrated nutrient management treatments was attributed to improved nutrient availability, enhanced soil physical and chemical properties, and greater nutrient-use efficiency. The study demonstrated that combining inorganic fertilizers with vermicompost can effectively enhance sesame productivity and sustain soil health under semi-arid conditions. Therefore, application of 75% RDN through chemical fertilizers along with 25% RDN through vermicompost may be recommended for achieving higher yield and sustainable sesame production.