Effect of high yielding variety and improved practices on yield of sesamum in onattukara tracts of Alappuzha district

Field demonstrations were conducted during 2018–19 and 2019–20 in Onattukara region of Alappuzha district to establish the advantage of cultivating a high yielding variety with recommended crop management practices on enhancing the net income from sesamum cultivation. High Yielding Variety Thilarani was cultivated at twenty farmer partners’ field in a total area of 12 hectares in Vallikunnam and Chettikulangara panchayaths during the summer season (January to April) during both years. Scientific crop management along with critical irrigations were given at 2–4 leaf stage, branching, flowering and pod formation stages. Observations were recorded on plant height, number of branches, number of capsules per plant, 1000 seeds weight and yield. While plant height (142.7 cm), number of branches (6.6), number of capsules per plant (43.4) were significantly higher in the HYV compared to the farmers’ variety, capsule length (2.4), number of seeds per capsule (53), and 1000 seed weight (3.1 g) were on par. Seed yield of high yielding variety (424 kg/ha) was significantly higher compared to the traditional variety (334 kg/ha). Higher average net returns (Rs.47702/ha) as well as benefit cost ratio (1.8) were achieved by the cultivation of HYV with scientific management practices compared to the farmers’ practice (Rs.26104/ha and 1.4)