Effect of tillage systems, irrigation intervals and phosphorus levels on oil contents, yield and yield components of Sesame

Despite the importance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the world, this crop has received least research attention in Pakistan. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of tillage system under various irrigation intervals and phosphorus levels on oil contents, yield and yield attributes of Sesame. The experiment was conducted at New Developmental Farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications each. Three irrigation interval viz., 9, 18, 27 days, and three tillage systems ie, conventional tillage with cultivator, deep tillage with chisel plough and shallow tillage with MBP were allotted to main plots, while four phosphorus levels viz., 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha -1 were allotted to sub plots. Results showed that irrigation intervals had significantly affected all the parameters except oil content. Water supply at 9 days interval had maximum capsules plant -1 (63), seed capsule -1 (59), 1000 seed weight (3.61 g), oil yield (515 kg ha -1 ), seed yield (975 kg ha -1 ) and biological yield (6642 kg ha -1 ) as compared with other irrigation intervals. Tillage system had significantly affected all the parameters except oil content. Conventional tillage produced maximum capsules plant -1 (59), seed capsule -1 (53), 1000 seed weight (3.38 g), oil yield (505 kg ha -1 ), seed yield (949 kg ha -1 ) and biological yield (6054 kg ha -1 ) as compared with deep and shallow tillage systems. Phosphorus application had also significantly affected all mentioned parameters. Plots treated with 90 kg P ha -1 produced maximum capsules plant -1 (71), seed capsule -1 (62), 1000 seed weight (4 g), oil content (58.21%) oil yield (676 kg ha -1 ), seed yield (1160 kg ha 1 ) and biological yield (6684 kg ha -1 ) as compared with control plots. The interaction between tillage systems, irrigation intervals and phosphorus levels revealed that application of water at 9 days interval with conventional tillage method and treated with 90 kg P ha -1 had maximum capsules plant -1 , 1000 seed weight, oil yield, seed yield and biological yield. Conventional tillage with 9 days irrigation interval and treated with 90 kg P ha -1 seems to be the best choice for sesame grower in the agro-climatic condition of Peshawar valley.