Asian Soil Research Journal

Potassium and sulfur are among the most important nutrients limiting sesame production. EthioSIS soil testing map indicate that nutrients such as K and S are deficient in the study site. Study was carried out to investigate response of sesame to K and S application at Humera Agricultural Research Center, Kafta Humera district, Tigray, Ethiopia in 2016 main cropping season. Treatments consisted four levels of potassium (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K₂O ha^-1 as KCl) and four levels of sulfur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg ha^-1 as CaSO_4.2H₂O). The experiment was laid out as Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial arrangement with three replications using Setit-1 sesame variety. Soil sample was taken, result of soil analysis revealed that the soil was clayey textural class, neutral in soil reaction (pH = 7.35), low organic matter content (0.73%), very low total N (0.03 %) and very low available P (0.74 mg kg^-1), high  soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) (40 cmol(+) kg^-1), medium exchangeable K (0.26 cmol(+) kg^-1) and low extractable sulfur (4.78 mg kg^-1). Maximum sesame grain yields (1371.67 kg ha^-1) was obtained from plot treated with 20 kg K₂O ha^-1 + 40 kg S ha^-1 which resulted 145.3% increase over the control  plot`s yield. From plots fertilized with K and S levels at a rate of 20 kg K ha^-1 and 40 kg S ha^-1 was obtained higher yield of sesame. It is conclude, therefore, it will be good to promote K and S for further demonstration.