Effect of spraying micronutrients Fe, Zn and Ca on grain and oil yield of sesame (Sesamus indicum L.) varieties

This study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of spraying micronutrients iron, zinc, calcium on yield and yield components of seven sesame varieties on 2007 cropping season in research farm of Shahed University. The experiment was performed as split-plot based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The main factor included FeSo₄, ZnSo₄, CaNo₃ and control (water) solutions. The sub-main factors were seven varieties (Yekhta, Varamin 237, Karaj 1, Borazjan 2, Jiroft 13, Bushehr 2 and Darab 14) of sesame. The results of variance showed significant differences among micronutrients on seeds per capsule, 1000-seed weight, oil percent and grain and oil yields. The cultivar×micronutrient interactions were not significant for all traits exception for oil percent (P<0.01). Zinc was highly affected grain yield (1.37 fold), seeds per capsule (1.30 fold) and oil yield (1.41 fold) in comparison with control treatment. The highest significant correlation observed between grain yield with seeds per plant (0.95) and grain yield with capsule per plant (0.93). According to stepwise regression analysis four traits, seeds per plant, 1000-seed weight, Secondary branches number and seeds per capsule were entered in regression equation. In final conclusion, this survey showed that zinc and calcium were the best micronutrients to increase oil and grain yields of sesame and the cultivars Bushehr 2 and Borazjan 2 were introduced as the best cultivars with high grain yield (27.5 and 24.1 gr.plant^-1) and high oil yield (13.8 and 12.6 gr.plant^-1).