EFFECT OF PLANT-DENSITY AND FERTILITY LEVELS ON PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICS OF SUMMER SESAME (SESAMUM-INDICUM)

A field experiment was conducted on sandy-loam lateritic acid tract of West Bengal to study the effect of plant density and fertility levels on productivity and economics of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). High plant density (333,000/ha) recorded the higher seed and stick yie lds, greater harvest index and higher oil yield than low plant densiti es. It also paid high net return along with high return/rupee invested . Fertility levels favourably influenced the productivity and economic s of this crop. Crop receiving 96 kg N, 18 kg P and 52 kg K/ha gave th e highest seed stick and oil yields. It recorded 88.3% yield increase over control and paid the maximum net return (Rs 5,658/ha) along with highest monetary return/rupee invested. Optimum fertility level was fo und to be 92 kg N + 17 kg P + 50 kg K/ha which led to the production o f 1,318 kg seed/ha with an average response of 8.3 kg seed/kg nutrient and net return of Rs 5,137/ha.