SESAME

India is largest producer of sesame in world. In India, Rajasthan is second largest producer of sesame after Uttar Pradesh. Ganganagar, Alwar, Hanumangarh, Bharatpur, Pali are major sesame producing districts of Rajasthan. Sesame is known as Til in Hindi. It is short duration crop can be grown through out the year. Its seeds are used to extract edible oil. Seeds are available in two color, black and white. 

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.

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

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

T 13: Suitable for light soils of Rajasthan. Gives average yield of 240 kg/acre.

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

JTS 8

Pragati

RT 103, RT 125, RT 54, RT 46

RT 127, RT 346, RT 351

Hybrids

SVPR-1, TMV 4, TMV 5, TMV 3, CO-1, TMV 6, VRI (SV)-1, VRI (SV)-2

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
In Rajasthan, sesame is cultivated in Kharif season. Optimum time for sesame cultivation is in Late June to early July.

Spacing
Keep spacing of 35cm between two rows and 15cm between two plants.
 
Sowing Depth
Avoid deep sowing of sesame seeds. Sow seeds at depth of 2-3cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing of sesame broadcasting or line sowing is adopted. 

Seed Rate
In broadcasting method, seed rate of 2-2.5 kg is required where as in line sowing method, seed rate of 1-1.2kg for one acre is required. Sesame seeds are small so for even distribution mix seeds with four times its volume of dry sand or manure.

Seed Treatment
Seed treatment with Carbendazim@2gm/kg or Thiram@4gm/kg of seeds will protect seeds from attack of soil borne fungus. After chemical treatment, treat seeds with Trichoderma viride@@2gm/kg seeds.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation, apply well decomposed cowdung@4-8 ton/acre. Overall sesame crop required Nitrogen@8kg (Urea@20kg) and Phosphorus@8kg/acre (SSP@50kg) for heavy soils. For light soils, apply Nitrogen@16kg and Phosphorus@10kg per acre in form of Urea@40kg and SSP@ 65kg/acre.

Apply half dose of nitrogen and full dose of Phosphorus at time of sowing. Apply remaining quantity of Nitrogen 30-35 days after sowing. 

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.

To keep field weed free, take first weeding 20-25 days after sowing. Second weeding is done after 40-45 days of sowing. To control weed chemically, apply pre-emergence herbicides like Fluchloralin@800ml/acre or Alachlor@600 ml/acre.

• Pest 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.
 

• Disease 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.