Growth and yield of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) as influenced by plant population density and organo-mineral fertilizer rates

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an important oil-seed crop cultivated for its high nutrition and edible seeds. However, its cultivation is affected by low soil fertility, wrong choice of plant population density and time of sowing. The experiment was carried out during the 2016 and 2017 cropping seasons at the Research Site of Agronomy Section, Kabba College of Agriculture, Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria. The experiment evaluated the influence of plant population density and organo-mineral fertilizer rates on the performance of Sesame in Kabba, Kogi State, Nigeria. The experiment was a split plot design replicated thrice. The main plot treatment was three plant population density (P1 = 111,111; P2 = 83,333 and P3 = 66,667 plants ha–1) and the sub-plot treatment was four organo-mineral fertilizer rates (F0 = 0, F1 = 500, F2 = 1000, F3 = 1500 kg ha-1). Data were collected on growth, morphological characters (plant height, number of leaves, number of branches) and yield components (number of capsules plant–1, 1000 seed weight and yield ha–1). The result showed that the plant at P1 produced the tallest plants throughout the period of sampling, which was closely followed by P2 while P3 produced the shortest plants. Numbers of capsules plant–1 was highest in plots with P1 which was statistically the same with the number of capsules plant–1 in P2. Number of capsules plant–1 in P1 and P2 were statistically better than the plots with P3. Plots treated with rate F2 gave the highest number of capsules and also recorded the highest yield in 2016 and 2017 growth seasons. The results indicated that Sesame with closest spacing was better in terms of seed yield land–1 area while widest spacing gave the highest individual yield attributes. For economic use of land, it is concluded that plant population density at 111,111 be adopted in the production of Sesame. Best growth and yield performance of Sesame was achieved with 1500 kg ha-1 of organo-mineral fertilizer and is recommended for optimum production of Sesame in the study area.

Influence of organic nutrient sources on fruit yield and antioxidant properties of Nigerian pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) morphotypes

“…Specifically, Ogar and Asiegbu (2005) and Nwite et al (2013) reported that manure enhanced the yield of fluted pumpkin. Oloniruha et al (2021) reported a similar trend on sesame. The impressive results in the present study would be partially explained by improvements in soil structure due to cattle dung (Ezenne et al, 2019) and poultry manure (Obalum et al, 2020).…”

Influence of Organic and Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on Growth and Fruit Yield of Eggplant on Acidic Soil

“…But, above all, given soil low initial organic matter and high sand contents, the resulting low biological activity is responsible for the low mineralization observed of the added organic fertilizers. In other works, the best yield performance of Sesame was achieved with 1.5 t ha -1 of organo-mineral fertilizer and thus is recommended for optimum production of this crop (Oloniruha, 2021). Moreover, Hui (2021) and Islam et al (2021) found that biochar and plastic mulches applications in Olericulture had a positive effect on fruit yield.…”

Improving Growth and Yield Performance of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under the Effects of Soil Amendments and Planting Geometry

“…This performance could be ascribed to the capacity of the various soil amendments to supply plants with regular available N in a sustained manner throughout the whole vegetative period. This is an important feature in soils characterized by required N availability, as it lowers the possibility to have N plant deficiencies during important vegetative stages, and decreases the risk of N leaching and N 2 O gas emissions [25,39,16,40]. Similarly, improved nutrient availability positively affected cell physiology that translated into optimum yield through the translocation of photosynthates to the sink (seed), which promoted seed weight.…”

“…Population density is an integral factor of yield, and a uniform plants distribution per unit area is a requirement for yield stability [24]. The finding of [25] revealed that Sesame with closest spacing was better in terms of seed yield per land area while widest spacing produced the maximum individual yield attributes. Commercial production of sesame in Ghana is new and is limited to few farmers in northern Ghana.…”