Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

1. Origin and History

• Origin: Africa (Ethiopia) is primary; secondary center in India.
• One of the oldest oilseed crops (cultivated >4000 years).
• Mentioned in ancient Indian, Egyptian, and Chinese records.
• Spread from Africa → India → China → rest of Asia.

2. General Information

• Belongs to family Pedaliaceae.
• Known as “Queen of Oilseeds” due to high oil quality and stability.
• Oil content: 45–50% (rich in unsaturated fatty acids).
• Protein content: 18–20%.
• Contains sesamin & sesamol → natural antioxidants that enhance oil stability.
• Crop duration: 80–120 days depending on variety and season.
• Mostly grown as Kharif crop in India, also in summer and Rabi in some tracts.

3. Area, Production & Distribution (India, 2023)

• Area: ~1.6 million ha.
• Production: ~0.8 million tonnes.
• States: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal.
• India’s status: Leading producer and exporter of sesame seed (especially to Japan, Middle East, Europe).

4. Climatic Requirements

• Temperature: 25–35°C (warm season crop).
• Rainfall: 500–650 mm, but tolerant to drought.
• Photoperiod: Day-neutral, but prefers long days for higher yield.
• Sensitive to: Waterlogging and continuous rains → flower shedding & diseases.
• Best suited for rainfed, marginal soils.

5. Soil

• Suited to well-drained sandy loam to loamy soils.
• pH range: 5.5–8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).
• Avoid saline, alkaline, and heavy clay soils.

6. Varieties (examples)

• North India: T-13, Punjab Til No.1, RT-125.
• South India: CO-1, TMV-3, TMV-7.
• High-yielding: Swetha Til, Pragati, Gujarat Til-2, Raj Til-2.
• Hybrid: JCSH-6 (recent release).

7. Agronomy (Cultural Practices)

• Season:
  • Kharif (June–July, major season).
  • Summer (Jan–Feb with irrigation).
  • Rabi (limited, Sept–Oct in South India).
• Seed rate: 3–5 kg/ha.
• Spacing: 30–45 cm × 10–15 cm.
• Sowing depth: 2–3 cm (shallow).
• Fertilizer requirement:
  • N: 25–35 kg/ha.
  • P₂O₅: 40–50 kg/ha.
  • K₂O: 20–30 kg/ha.
  • S: 20 kg/ha recommended.
• Biofertilizers: Azospirillum + PSB.
• Irrigation: Generally rainfed, but 2–3 irrigations in critical stages improve yield:
  • Flowering
  • Capsule formation
  • Seed filling.

8. Weed Management

• Critical period: 0–30 DAS.
• Manual weeding at 15 & 30 DAS.
• Herbicides:
  • Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE).
  • Quizalofop-ethyl @ 50 g a.i./ha (for grassy weeds, POE).

9. Pests & Diseases

• Insect pests:
  • Gall fly (Asphondylia sesami).
  • Leaf roller/capsule borer.
  • Bihar hairy caterpillar.
• Diseases:
  • Phyllody (mycoplasma).
  • Alternaria leaf spot.
  • Powdery mildew.
  • Wilt (Fusarium).
• Management: Resistant varieties, seed treatment, need-based sprays (Carbendazim, Mancozeb, Imidacloprid).

10. Quality Components

• Oil content: 45–50%.
• Protein content: 18–20%.
• Special components: Sesamin & sesamol → high oxidative stability (oil doesn’t turn rancid easily).
• Fatty acids:
  • Oleic acid: ~40–45%.
  • Linoleic acid: ~40–45%.
  • Saturated fatty acids: ~10%.

11. Industrial & Food Uses

• Edible: Cooking oil, confectionery (sweets, bakery, tahini, sesame snacks).
• Non-edible: Soaps, perfumes, pharmaceuticals.
• Oilcake: Protein-rich cattle feed.
• Seeds used in bakery, condiments, traditional medicine.

12. Economics

• Low-input crop; suitable for marginal/rainfed soils.
• B:C ratio: 1.5–2.0 depending on season & management.
• Export-oriented → fetches premium price in global market.

13. Post-harvest Technology

• Harvest when capsules turn yellow and leaves start shedding.
• Early harvest prevents shattering losses (sesame has high seed shattering tendency).
• Threshing: By beating or using small threshers.
• Dry seeds to ~8% moisture for storage.

14. Important MCQ Facts (Quick Recap)

• Botanical name: Sesamum indicum.
• Family: Pedaliaceae.
• Origin: Africa (Ethiopia).
• Oil content: 45–50%.
• Protein content: 18–20%.
• Antioxidants: Sesamol & Sesamin (unique).
• Seed rate: 3–5 kg/ha.
• Spacing: 30–45 × 10–15 cm.
• Critical irrigations: Flowering, capsule formation, seed filling.
• Major pest: Gall fly.
• Major disease: Phyllody.
• Special note: Oil has highest stability among edible oils.