Growth, Yield and Yield Component of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as Affected by Timing of Nitrogen Application

Abstract

Sesame is an important cash crop and plays vital role in the livelihood of many people in Ethiopia. Nitrogen plays a key role in sesame production and it is required in large amount by any crop more than any mineral nutrient. Nitrogen timing is important crop management practices for improving N use efficiency and crop yields. Field experiment was conducted in northern Ethiopia during the rainy season of 2012 with the objective to evaluate the yield and yield response of sesame to nitrogen fertilizer application timings. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments consisted of nine nitrogen application timings viz. 100% of the recommended dose at planting time (T₁), 100% of the recommended dose at first branching stage (T₂), 100% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T₃), 100% of the recommended dose at early pod setting (T₄), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at first branching stage (T₅), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T₆), 50% of the recommended dose at planting time and 50% of the recommended dose at early pod setting (T₇), 50% of the recommended dose at first branching stage and 50% of the recommended dose at early flower initiation (T₈), 50% of the recommended at first branching stage and 50% of the recommended at early pod setting (T₉). Results revealed that number of branches per plant, plant height, length of capsule bearing zone, number of capsules per plant and seed yield were significantly (p< 0.05) influenced by different time of nitrogen application treatments. The maximum values of the parameters, except grain yield, were obtained from T₅ application timing. At the same time, the highest sesame seed yield per hectare was obtained from T₈ application timings. 

Keywords: Sesame, Sesamum indicum L., nitrogen fertilizer, Nitrogen application timings, seed yield,