EFFECT OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZER APPLICATION METHOD AND IRRIGATION INTERVAL ON THE YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.) CROP

Abstract

"A field study was conducted during the summer season 2018, in Zekheikhah village west of Iraq to determine the effect of potassium application method and Water deficit stress on a number of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sesame crop. Results revealed that application of potassium application method, dividing the recommended amount of potassium into two parts, the first is added to the soil when planting and the other part by spraying when flowering, led to a significant increase in the parameters of the oil quality in the seeds, the yield and its components. Low water availability (T3) significantly decreased in oil% and seed yield. The seed yield reduction was mainly due to a reduction in seed weight and a reduction in seed number in capsules. Moderate shortage (T2 ) of irrigation water availability (irrigation every 20 days) neither affected negatively improved oil percentage and weight of 1000 grains. In terms of the interaction between irrigation intervals and potassium application method, the evidence showed that the potassium plays a vital role in reducing the negative effect of water deficiency, as observed from the interaction in case of absence of the K fertilizer, where the results showed in the combination of with no potassium, less watering has led to a reduction in the most yield components and the oil content of seeds. To improve crop the resistance to drought, management practices should be considered for reducing drought-related issues in major sesame crop"