Influence of farm yard manure and N-levels on the growth, yield characters and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at the Kogi State University Research and Demonstration Farm Anyigba, (Lat 7° 291 and Long 70 111E). Anyigba lies in the Guinea Savanna Agro-ecological Zone. This experiment was conducted during the raining season of 2021 to evaluate the effect of Farm Yard Manure and Nitrogen levels on the growth, yield characters and seed yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Treatments consisted of three levels of Farm Yard Manure (0 t ha -1 , 5 t ha -1 , 10 tonsha-1and 15 t ha -1 ) respectively and Nitrogen fertilizer rates (0 tons Nha-1, 0.02 t N ha -1 , 0.04 t N ha -1 and 0.06 t N ha -1 ) respectively. Factorial combination of treatments gave a total number of 16 treatments which was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. 48 plots were obtained in total. Results showed that application of Farm Yard Manure did not influence (p≥0.05) all parameters studied in the experiment except dry weight/plant, plant height and seed yield/ha. Nitrogen application significantly influenced (p≤0.05) plant height and seed yield only. There was no significant interaction observed between Farm Yard Manure and Nitrogen levels in all parameters studied.