Abstract

Experiment was conducted at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), India by adopting split plot design with 12 treatment combinations comprising irrigation method as a main factor with six levels viz., border irrigation (control), four high discharge drip irrigation with online drippers of 4, 8, 14, 20 lph discharge having various dripper and lateral spacing and sub-surface porous pipe irrigation system. Mulching was used as a sub-factor with two levels viz., 5 t/ha wheat straw and no mulch. Irrigation was scheduled based on surface wetting front movement study for high discharge drip irrigation systems. The response of sesame was evaluated in terms of yield parameters, weed intensity, water use efficiency and economics. Porous pipe irrigation system and 4 lph drip irrigations gave significantly higher grain yield of 1623 and 1554 kg/ha i. e. 35 and 29% higher than control, respectively. Mulching resulted in 11.2% higher yield and 39% less weed intensity than no mulch. Increase in dripper discharge resulted in decrease in sesame yield, all the drip irrigation treatments resulted in higher yield than border irrigation. Cost of irrigation reduced as dripper discharge increased; the highest benefit: cost ratio of 4.0 was found under the treatment with 14 lph dripper discharge. Drip irrigation treatment with dripper discharge × dripper spacing × lateral spacing as 14 lph x 0.8 x 2.1 m with 5 t/ha wheat straw mulch proved to be the best irrigation treatment for sesame cultivation considering yield parameters, weed intensity and cost economics.