Cultivation of Sesame (Sesamum indicum)

Importance

• One of the oldest oilseed crops known as “Queen of Oilseeds.”
• Seeds contain 45–55% oil of high quality.
• Used for edible oil, sweets, bakery, and medicinal purposes.
• Rich in antioxidants (sesamin, sesamol) → good shelf life.
• Suitable for rainfed and marginal lands.

Botanical & General Facts

• Botanical name: Sesamum indicum
• Family: Pedaliaceae
• Origin: Africa (Ethiopia region)
• Chromosome number: 2n = 26
• Pollination: Mostly self-pollinated (some cross pollination ~5%)
• Crop type: Oilseed

Morphology

• Root: Tap root with lateral roots
• Stem: Erect, hairy, branched
• Leaves: Opposite at lower nodes, alternate above
• Flower: Bell-shaped, white/pink/purple
• Fruit: Capsule containing many small seeds

Climate Requirement

• Warm season crop
• Optimum temperature: 25–35°C
• Requires moderate rainfall (500–650 mm)
• Sensitive to waterlogging and frost
• Needs dry weather at maturity

Soil Requirement

• Best soil: Well-drained sandy loam to loam
• pH range: 5.5–8.0
• Sensitive to salinity and waterlogging

Seasons in India

• Kharif (main season) → June–July
• Rabi → Oct–Nov (South India)
• Summer → Jan–Feb

Improved Varieties

• Kharif: TKG-22, RT-46, GT-3, JLT-7
• Rabi/Summer: TMV-3, TMV-4, VRI-1

Key Concepts

• Sesame is drought tolerant but sensitive to excess moisture.
• Oil quality is high due to natural antioxidants.

Land Preparation

• Requires fine, firm, well-leveled seedbed for uniform germination.
• 1 deep ploughing followed by 2–3 harrowings.
• Good drainage is essential because sesame is highly sensitive to waterlogging.

Seed Rate & Sowing

Seed rate: Line sowing → 3–5 kg/ha, Broadcasting → 5–7 kg/ha

Spacing: 30 × 10 cm (normal varieties). 45 × 15 cm (branching types)

Depth: Shallow sowing at 2–3 cm depth. Seeds are very small, so shallow sowing is important.

Nutrient Management

Recommended fertilizer dose:

• Nitrogen → 20–40 kg/ha
• Phosphorus → 20–40 kg P₂O₅/ha
• Potassium → 20 kg K₂O/ha
• Apply half nitrogen + full P & K as basal and remaining nitrogen at 30 DAS.

Irrigation Management: Mostly grown as rainfed crop.

Critical stages: Flowering, Capsule formation. Avoid excess irrigation as it causes root rot.

Weed Management: Critical period → 15–30 DAS

Control methods: One hand weeding at 20 DAS. Pre-emergence herbicide → Pendimethalin

Harvesting

• Harvest when leaves turn yellow and capsules start drying.
• Delayed harvesting leads to shattering losses.
• Plants are cut and dried before threshing.

Yield: Rainfed → 4–6 q/ha, Irrigated → 8–10 q/ha

Key Agronomic Insights

• Sensitive to waterlogging.
• Shattering is major harvest problem.
• Phyllody is most destructive disease.
• Drought tolerant crop.

High Yield Exam Facts

• Oil content → 45–55%
• Called Queen of Oilseeds
• Seed rate → 3–5 kg/ha
• Critical stage → Flowering
• Major disease → Phyllody
• Capsule fruit type