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Oilseed crop growing guide
Sesame is a heat-loving annual native to the Indian subcontinent, grown for its oil-rich seed and bell-shaped flowers. Sow it directly into warm, well-drained soil, keep it weeded early and harvest before the capsules split.
The seed is small. Mix it with dry sand, dry soil or sieved manure (ICAR-IIOR uses about 1 part seed to 20 parts filler) so it falls thinly and evenly. In Indian field practice seed is also treated with Trichoderma at 4 g per kg just before sowing against seed- and soil-borne diseases.
Not needed. Sesame seed takes up water readily.
Not needed. Sesame is a warm-season crop with no cold requirement.
Not needed. Sow into moist soil instead; the seed needs about three days of moisture to germinate.
Sow once the soil is about 21 °C (70 °F). The crop grows best at 25-35 °C (77-95 °F); below 15 °C (59 °F) or above 45 °C (113 °F) yield falls sharply, and hot winds above 40 °C (104 °F) lower oil content. In India ICAR-IIOR lists kharif sowing in June-July (about 70% of the area), late kharif in August-September, rabi in October-November, summer in January-March and semi-rabi in early to mid September in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
About 1.5-2.5 cm (0.6-1 in), placing the seed just into moist soil. Deep sowing gives poor germination and a thin stand.
Light to medium, well-drained, fertile soil. Level the bed so no water stands anywhere.
Sow into moist soil or water right after sowing; TNAU gives a light irrigation about 7 days later. Avoid waterlogging at every stage.
Grow in an open, fully sunny position.
Seedlings appear in about 3-5 days when soil is warm and moist; cold soil delays and thins emergence.
Not recommended. Sow sesame in rows where it will grow; ICAR-IIOR spacings range from 30 x 10-15 cm to 30 x 30 cm (12 x 4-6 in to 12 x 12 in), wider for branching varieties.
TNAU thins to 15 cm (6 in) between plants at 15 days and to 30 cm (12 in) at 30 days on wide spacing, which encourages basal branches.
Growth is very slow for the first three to four weeks and seedlings compete poorly. Weed at 15-20 and again at 30-35 days after sowing.
Kharif crops seldom need irrigation except in long dry spells. Summer and rabi crops are irrigated every 12-15 days. Flowering and capsule formation are the critical stages; stop watering near maturity, because late moisture delays ripening.
Seed may be white, black, brown or red. Most recommended Indian varieties mature in about 80-90 days; the range is about 72-125 days.
Cut or pull plants when leaves yellow and drop and the lowest capsules are lemon yellow. Stack the plants for about three days to cure, then dry them a little longer and shake or tap them over a sheet to release the seed.
Sun-dry threshed seed for several days, stirring often, before storing it in a dry container.
Sow sesame directly into warm, well-drained soil in full sun.
Most sesame is a kharif crop sown in June-July with the monsoon. Rabi sowing in October-November and summer sowing in January-March are also used where irrigation is available.
Sesame cannot stand waterlogging; even a short period of standing water can kill it. Grow it on level, well-drained ground or raised beds.
When the leaves turn yellow and start to drop and the bottom capsules are lemon yellow. Do not wait until the capsules are brown, or they will split and drop the seed.
