Sesame Trial with Polysulphate in India
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Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 2014
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Key Conclusions
Using Polysulphate in the fertilizer regime increased sesame seed yield by 33% compared to the control, resulting in a dramatic 43% increase in oil yield.
Objective
To test the efficacy of Polysulphate as a sulfur source on the performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) crops in India.
Trial Details
Trial station
Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Product
Standard Polysulphate
Assessments
Yield, yield components, oil content, and nutrient uptake
Treatments
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replicates and included 6 treatments:
- T1: Control without S and K fertilization (100% NP through urea and DAP only)
- T2: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, and Muriate of Potash (MOP))
- T3: 100% NP + 50% S through Polysulphate (20 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T4: 100% NP + 75% S through Polysulphate (30 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T5: 100% NP + 100% S through Polysulphate (40 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T6: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, and MOP) + 100% S through gypsum (40 kg S/ha)
The recommended dose of fertilizers (120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5, 60 kg K2O/ha and 40 kg S/ha) was applied as per the treatments. The full dose of P, K, S, and a half dose of N were applied at the time of sowing as a basal application. The remaining half dose of N was applied in 2 equal splits, at the stages of maximum tillering and flower initiation.
Treatment | N | P | K | S | Source of fertilizer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
kg/ha | kg/ha | kg/ha | kg/ha | |||
T1 | NP | 120 | 60 | 0 | 0 | Urea and DAP |
T2 | NPK | 120 | 60 | 60 | 0 | Urea, DAP, and MOP |
T3 | NPKS20 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 20 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T4 | NPKS30 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 30 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T5 | NPKS40 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 40 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T6 | NPKS40 Gypsum | 120 | 60 | 60 | 40 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and gypsum |
Treatments
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replicates and included 6 treatments:
- T1: Control without S and K fertilization (100% NP through urea and DAP only)
- T2: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, and Muriate of Potash (MOP))
- T3: 100% NP + 50% S through Polysulphate (20 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T4: 100% NP + 75% S through Polysulphate (30 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T5: 100% NP + 100% S through Polysulphate (40 kg S/ha) (balanced K through MOP to make 100% K)
- T6: 100% NPK (urea, DAP, and MOP) + 100% S through gypsum (40 kg S/ha)
The recommended dose of fertilizers (120 kg N, 60 kg P2O5, 60 kg K2O/ha and 40 kg S/ha) was applied as per the treatments. The full dose of P, K, S, and a half dose of N were applied at the time of sowing as a basal application. The remaining half dose of N was applied in 2 equal splits, at the stages of maximum tillering and flower initiation.
Treatment | N | P | K | S | Source of fertilizer | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
kg/ha | kg/ha | kg/ha | kg/ha | |||
T1 | NP | 120 | 60 | 0 | 0 | Urea and DAP |
T2 | NPK | 120 | 60 | 60 | 0 | Urea, DAP, and MOP |
T3 | NPKS20 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 20 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T4 | NPKS30 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 30 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T5 | NPKS40 Polysulphate | 120 | 60 | 60 | 40 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and Polysulphate |
T6 | NPKS40 Gypsum | 120 | 60 | 60 | 40 | Urea, DAP, MOP, and gypsum |
Results
- Sesame yield increased significantly and steadily in response to the increasing S dose applied through Polysulphate (T3-T5).
- Seed yield increased by 33% at the maximum S dose of 40 kg S/ha (T5) when compared to no S addition (T2). The same S dose, when applied through gypsum (T6), yielded slightly fewer seeds.
- The response of oil yield to Polysulphate fertilizer application was dramatic, providing a 43% increase (T5 vs. T2). Sulfur applied through gypsum (T6) also gave rise to a significant increase in oil yields, although to a lesser extent than with Polysulphate.
- Yield components like pods per plant, pod length, seeds per pod and seed weight were highest at the maximum S level (T5).
- K and S uptake by sesame crop increased with increasing S dose applied through Polysulphate (T3-T5).
* From research funded by the International Potash Institute www.ipipotash.org.