Effects of Irrigation Regimes and Mycorrhiza on Overall Agronomic Water Use Efficiency of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops in the world. Drought stress is one of the environmental factors limiting sesame production. The effects of water deficiency can be reduced by inoculation of plant roots with mycorrhiza fungi. In this experiment، the objective was to determine the effects of different levels of water application (60، 80 and 100% of soil moisture depletion) using surface drip irrigation method and inoculation of plants with mycorrhiza on WUEag of sesame. The experiment was arranged using a factorial design based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology in 2011. Results showed that the effect of irrigation regime on WUEag of seed yield was not significant. However، the effect of mycorrhiza on WUEag of seed yield was significant. The highest WUEag (0. 74 kg/m3) was related to irrigation regime of 80% and mycorrhiza. The effect of irrigation regime and mycorrhiza on WUEag of oil yield were significant. The highest WUEag (0. 43 kg/m3) was related to irrigation regime of 100% and mycorrhiza inoculation.