The Response of Large-Seeded Sesame to chemical Fertilizer Rates

Abstract

Field experiments was conducted to study the responses of 3 sesame varieties to chemical fertilizer rates. They were carried out in farmers fields in late rainy seasons of 1998 and 1999 in loamy sand soils (fineloamy, siliceous. Oxic Palesutults) in Ubon Ratchathani province, and clay soils (clayey, kaolinitic, Haplustoxs) in Sri Saket province. the experiments were designed in split plot with 3 resplications. Main plots were 3 sesame varieties, i.e. MK 60 (medium-seeded variety) LH 214 and LH 220 (large-seeded varieties). subplots were chemical fertilizer rates, i.e. 0-0-0, 4-4-2, 8-8-4 and 16-16-8 kg of N-P2O5K2O/rai (loamy sand soils) and 0-0-0- , 4-4-0, 8-8-0 and 16-16-0 kg of N-P2O5K2 O/rai (clay soils). the results suggested that the responses to chemical fertilizer rates of 3 sesame varieties were not significantily different. Applications of chemical fertilizer at the rates of 8-8-4 and 8-8-0 kg of N-P2O5K2 O/rai in loamy sand and clay soils, respectively, produced the highest seed yield, number of capsules per plant and marginal rate of return (Mrr0. However, chemical fertilizer application had no effect on number of seeds per capsule, seed size and oil and protein contents.