Studies on Effects of Flyash and Plant Hormones Treated Soil on Increased Oil Content in Seeds of Sesamum indicum

Sesamum is one of the most ancient cultivated crops in India. Sesamum (Family Pedaliaceae) is a genus of annual or perennial herb or occasionally shrub found in the warmer regions like Africa, Asia and Australia. About six species are recorded in India of which S. indicum is widely cultivated. In Chhattisgarh state there are many thermal power plants like NTPC, BCPP, CSEB, etc., which continue to discharge large quantities of flyash having alkaline nature. Soils of Chhattisgarh state are acidic (red, yellow). Soil acidity is responsible for Al³⁺ ion toxicity, which leads to reduced microorganism activity, and Mo and Zn deficiency. Al³⁺ ions affect plant growth in acidic soil inhibiting ischolar_main length, uptake of nutrients and reducing crop yield. In plants, IAA and GA were used as growth hormones. Plant growth parameters were compared for plain and flyash and hormone treated soil.