Effect of different moisture regimes and growth retardants on consumptive use and water use efficiency in summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L. Cv. Rama)

Field experiment in split plot design was conducted with summer sesame Cv. Rama in 1997 and 1998 with three levels of moisture regimes in main plot and five levels of growth retardant in sub-plot. Treatment B+F+C (irrigation at branching, peak flowering and capsule development stages) resulted in higher seed yield and higher CU of water compared to B+C and F+C. But treatment B+C exhibited higher WUE. Growth retardants (CCC @ 100 mgL⁻¹, CCC @ 200 mgL⁻¹, BX-112 @ 50 mgL⁻¹, BX-112 @ 100 mgL⁻¹) produced higher seed yield and they recorded higher CU and WUE over control. In sesame CCC @ 200 mgL⁻¹ showed highest yield potentiality. CCC @ 200 mgt⁻¹ and BX-112 @ 100 mgL⁻¹ exhibited higher and at par effect on CU but CCC @ 100 mgL⁻¹ rendered higher WUE.