Effect of sulphur and zinc fertilization on yield, uptake and nutrient-use efficiency of sesame (Sesamum indicum)

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture Jobner, Jaipur (Rajasthan) during the rainy (kharif) season of 2018, to study the effect of 4 levels of each sulphur (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg sulphur/ ha) and zinc (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg zinc sulphate/ha) fertilization on yield, uptake and nutrient-use efficiency of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Results showed that progressive increase in level of sulphur up to 30 kg/ha, being at par with 45 kg, significantly increased the most of the yield-attributing characters of sesame and increased N, P, S and Zn uptake. It also recorded significantly higher seed (712 kg/ha), stover (2345 kg/ha) and biological yield (3056 kg/ha) of sesame over control and 15 kg S/ha. The maximum sulphur-use efficiency was recorded when its level was raised from 0 to 15 kg/ha and various levels of sulphur brought significant effect on zinc-use efficiency. Successive increase in level of zinc sulphate up to 20 kg/ha significantly improved most of the yield-determining characters and N, P, S and Zn uptake by sesame over lower levels and found at par with 30 kg/ha. It also recorded significantly higher seed (725 kg/ha), stover (2307 kg/ha) and biological yields (3032 kg/ha) over the control and 10 kg/ha, and found at par with 30 kg zinc sulphate/ha. Raising the zinc level from 0 to 20 kg/ha and 0 to 10 kg/ha, registered the highest sulphur- and zinc-use efficiency, respectively. Application of 30 kg S/ha in conjunction with zinc sulphate at 20 kg/ha (S₃₀ Zn₂₀), was the most effective treatment combination for obtaining higher seed yield (802 kg/ha), nutrient uptake and net returns (48,970/ha) in sesame.