The Effectiveness of Dolomite Phosphate Rock on Growth and Yield of Black Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Paddy Field

The study was carried out to determine the amount of the dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) on the growth and seed yield of black sesame in a paddy field.

A randomized complete block design was used for the field experiment, which included four treatments, each with four replications. Treatments were applied without the DPR and with 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 t ha^-1 DPR.

Experimental results showed that sesame plants were fertilized with the following formula: 60 N × 60 P₂O₅ × 30 K₂O kg ha^-1. Moreover, the addition of 0.5 t ha^-1 DPR increased plant height (129.7 cm), the number of leaves and pods per plant (47.4 pods), total chlorophyll content in leaves (12.4 μg/cm²), the number of seeds per pod and seed yield (1.61 t ha^-1). The phosphate content increased in the stem but not in the leaves and seeds. The pH of the soil (0-20 cm) and the amount of NH₄+, NO₃- and P_Available were also increased.