Sesame is known as Til in Hindi. It is short duration crop can be grown throughout the year. Its seeds are used to extract edible oil. Seeds are available in two color, black and white. India is largest producer of sesame in world. In India Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Maharashtra are major sesame producing states.

In Maharashtra, it is taken as Kharif as well as Rabi crop. In Kharif, near about 52,650 hectare area was under sesame cultivation. Where as in Rabi season, near about 2900 hectare area is under its cultivation.

The ideal soil for sesame cultivation is well drained light to medium texture soil with good water holding capacity. pH of soil should be 5 to 8. Do not cultivate crop in alkaline and acidic soils. 

T.K.G 55: Ready to harvest in 75 to 78days. Seeds are white in color with 53% oil content. Gives average yield of 250kg per acre. Resistant to root rot.

Phule Til No 1: Ready to harvest in 90-95days. Suitable for cultivation for whole Maharashtra. Grains are white color. Gives average yield of 200-250kg per acre. 

Taapi (J.L.T 7): Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Gives average yield of 240-280kg per acre.

Padma: Ready to harvest 75 to 80days. Gives average yield of 260-300kg per acre.

J.L.T 408: Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Gives average yield 300-320kg per acre.

AKT 101: Developed by PDKV, Akola, suitable for summer sowing. Ready to harvest in 90-95days.

Other State variety

Pratap (C 50): Tall variety, ready to harvest in 100-105days. Seeds are white color with oil content 50%. Gives average yield of 200kg/acre. 

RT 46: Variety having white seeds with 50% oil content. Gives average yield of 280kg/acre.

TC 25: Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Seeds are white with oil percentage of 48.4%. Gives average yield of 200kg/acre. 

J.T.S.8: Ready to harvest in 83-86days. Seeds are white color with 52% oil content. Gives average yield of 240-280kg per acre. Resistant to root rot.

Jawahar Til 306: Ready to harvest in 86 to 90days. Seeds are white color with 52% oil content. Gives average yield of 280-360kg per acre. Resistant to root rot and powdery mildew.

Plough land once with help of desi /country plough followed by 1-2 cross harrowing. Levelled soil to avoid water logging in field. 

Time of sowing

Carry out cultivation with onset of monsoon. Sow seeds only when sufficient moisture is present in soil. Optimum time for sesame cultivation is from second week of June to first week of July.

Spacing

Depending upon soil type and variety, use spacing of 45cmx10cm or 30cmx15cm.

Sowing Depth

Avoid deep sowing of sesame seeds. Sow seeds at depth of 2-2.5cm.

Method of sowing

For sowing of sesame broadcasting or line sowing is adopted.  

Seed Rate

For sowing of one acre land use seed rate of 1 to 1.2kg. Sesame seeds are small in size, so for even distribution mix seeds with four times its volume of dry sand or manure.

Seed Treatment

Seed treatment with Carbendazim@0.1gm/Ltr + Thiram@4gm/Ltr of water will protect seeds from attack of soil born fungus. After chemical treatment, treat seeds with Trichoderma viridae or Trichoderma@@4gm/kg seeds.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cowdung@2-4ton/acre or apply four quintals of castor or neem cake at time of seed sowing. 

Overall, sesame crop required, Nitrogen@20kg (Urea@45kg) and Phosphorus@16kg (SSP@100kg). Apply half dose of Nitrogen and full dose of Phosphorus at time of seed sowing. Apply remaining amount of nitrogen, three weeks after seed sowing. In case of Sulphur deficient soils, apply Sulphur@8kg/acre at time sowing.

To keep field weed free, take first weeding 20-25 days after sowing. Second weeding is done after 40-45days of sowing. To control weed chemically, apply herbicides like Fluchoralin@0.4kg/acre or Alachlor@0.6Ltr/acre before seed sowing. After seed sowing within two to three days, apply Pendimethalin@200-280ml per acre in 200Ltr of water. To control weed after 15 to 20days, take spray of Quizalofop@320ml/acre in 200Ltr of water.  

As it is grown in Kharif Season, less irrigation is required. Provide protective irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and rainfall frequency. Avoid water stress at flower initiation and capsule formation.

• Pests and their control:

Bihari Hairy Caterpillar: Feed on leaves as well as on all part leaving only stem.

If infestation is observed, to control take spray of Dimethoate@20ml/10Ltr of water.

Gall Fly: Maggots feeds on floral buds. Infested plant does not develop capsules.

At initial stage, take spray of Neem formulation@3gm/10Ltr of water. In case of severe infestation, take spray of Carbaryl 50 WP@900gm/acre in 150 litre of water or Dimethoate@20ml/10Ltr of water.

Leaf Webber or Capsule Borer: Young larvae roll into few leaves and feed on them. Plants do not produce branch or shoot. At flowering stage borer feeds on capsules and seed thus affect yield.

At initial stage, take spray of Neem formulation@3gm/10Ltr of water. In case of severe infestation, take spray of Carbaryl 50 WP@900gm/acre in 200 litre of water or Dimethoate@20ml/10Ltr of water.  

Hawk or Dead head moth: Caterpillar attacks on leaves and feed on them. Affected plant do not produce any branches.

If incidence is observed, collect caterpillar and destroyed them away from field. If infestation is observed, to control, do spray of Carbaryl@800gm/acre.

• Diseases and their control:

Phyllody: Plants do not produce flower, its flower part turn into leaf like structure.

Remove infestated plant and destroyed them away from field. Do soil application of Phorate@4kg/acre or spray crop with Dimethoate@20ml/10Ltr of water.

Powdery mildew: White powdery growth is observed on young leaves. In severe condition premature defoliation and fruit drop is observed.

If infestation is observed in field, take spray of Wettable Sulphur@25gm/10Ltr of water or Dinocap@5ml/10Ltr of water. If necessary take second spray with interval of 10days.

Cercospora leaf spot: Small brown spots are observed on the leaves. In case of severe infestation, defoliation occur.

If infestation of disease is observed in field, take spray of Mancozeb@2gm/Ltr or Captan@2gm/Ltr or Carbendazim@2gm per Ltr of water.

Root rot: Infested roots become dark brown in colour and plant die in case of severe infestation.

Avoid monocropping and follow crop rotation. Before sowing do seed treatment with Carbendazim@2.5gram per kg of seed. Drench the soil with Carbendazim solution@2gm/Ltr of water.

Crop is ready for harvesting, when leaves and capsule changes its color to yellow and leaves start to defoliate. Do not delay harvesting to avoid shattering of capsule.

After harvesting, crop is tied into bundles and stacked on threshing floor for several days for proper drying. Seeds are separated from crops by gentle beating with sticks. After cleaning, seeds are dry in sun for three days. After then stored seeds in gunny bags.