Sesame Cultivation: Know the major diseases in sesame crop and how to manage them

Sesame Cultivation: Oilseed crops are an important part of Indian agriculture, in which sesame is a major cash crop. It is known for being rich in nutrients as well as oil production. However, there is a risk of many types of diseases and pests in sesame cultivation, which affect the yield and quality of the crop. In this article, we will explain in detail the major diseases in sesame crop, their symptoms and management measures.

1. Gall Fly Disease

Symptoms

It is an insect-borne disease that affects the stems of sesame plants.

Due to this disease, the stems of the plant start rotting and gradually the whole plant gets destroyed.

The larvae of the gall fly eat the inner parts of the plant and hollow it, due to which the plant becomes weak and eventually dies.

Management

To prevent this disease, spraying of monocrotophos insecticide should be done at an interval of 15-20 days.

Keep the field clean and uproot and destroy the diseased plants immediately.

2. Leaf borer disease (Leif Weber)

Symptoms

In this disease, small holes are seen on the leaves of sesame plants.

These are green coloured insects, which have light green and white stripes on their body.

If they are not controlled on time, they can destroy the entire crop.

Management

Spray monocrotophos or neem based insecticides.

Promote natural enemies like spiders and parasitic insects.

3. Phyllody Disease

Symptoms

This disease affects sesame flowers.

The infected flowers turn yellow and eventually fall off.

This causes a huge reduction in crop yield.

Management

Spray Metasystox or other fungicides.

Select disease resistant varieties.

4. Pod Borer

Symptoms:

The female of this insect lays eggs on the leaves, flowers and pods of the plant.

The larvae damage the pods by eating them from inside, affecting the quality of the seeds.

These insects can be brown, black, yellow or green in colour.

Management:

Spray Quinalphos or Imidacloprid.

Adopt crop rotation and monitor the field regularly.

Weed Management Measures

Sesame crop is highly infested with weeds, which reduce the yield by competing for nutrients and water.

1. Weeding

Do the first weeding 15-20 days after sowing and the second weeding after 35-40 days.

If there is a shortage of labourers, use alachlor (1.75 kg / hectare) or pendimethalin (1 kg / hectare).

2. Precautions for chemical weed control

What to do:

Use only the approved amount of weedicide.

Use a flat fan nozzle.

Spray only when there is moisture in the field.

What not to do:

Do not spray in strong wind.

Do not mix weedicide with sand or urea.

Precautions in Sesame Cultivation

1. Sowing time

Sowing in Kharif season (June-July) gives good yield.

2. Fertilizer Management

At the time of sowing, add 52 kg urea, 88 kg DAP and 35 kg MOP per hectare.

3. Seed Treatment

Select advanced and disease resistant varieties.

4. Irrigation

Sesame is a rain-fed crop, but do light irrigation as per requirement.

5. Intercropping

Intercropping of moong, urad or arhar with sesame increases the fertility of the soil.

Sesame cultivation through weed management and balanced fertilizer use

The outbreak of diseases and pests in sesame crop affects the productivity of the crop to a great extent. These problems can be avoided by timely monitoring, selecting disease resistant varieties and using appropriate pesticides. Also, maximum yield can be obtained from sesame cultivation through weed management and balanced fertilizer use. Farmers can earn good profit from sesame cultivation by adopting these measures.