Effect of Some Macro and Micronutrients on Seed Yield and Other Agronomic Traits of Sesame in Isfahan

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thirteen fertilizer treatments (as main factor) on agronomic traits of two local cultivars (as sub factors) of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), "Mobarakeh" and "Ardestan" in Isfahan by using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that applying fertilizer treatments of N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn had no significant effects on yield components, seed yield and oil yield. However, comparing the control treatment, simultaneous application of all fertilizers significantly reduced days to maturity. Significant interaction between cultivars and fertilizer treatments was observed for seed oil content, as application of N, P, NPK and NPK+Fe+Zn in Mobarakeh and application of N+K in Ardestan reduced seed oil content. However, the other fertilizer treatments had no significant effects on this trait. The Mobarakeh cultivar compared to Ardestan had significantly higher plant height, higher seeds per capsule, lower 1000-seed weight, higher seed yield per plant and per hectare and higher oil yield. Seed yield for Mobarakeh and Ardestan cultivars were 1646 and 1169 kg/ha and their seed oil contents were 52.88% and 53.81%, respectively. The correlation coefficients and regression analysis showed that the variation of seed yield was mostly due to the number of capsules per plant and seeds per capsules, thus these two traits were the most important yield components. Oil yield had a very high correlation coefficient with seed yield (r=0.99**), whereas its correlation with seed oil content was very low (r = -0.10ns). Therefore, it seems that seed yield was the main cause of higher oil yield.