GROWTH AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF SESAME (Sesamum Indicum L.) AS INFLUENCED BY PHOSPHORUS LEVELS UNDER DIFFERENT ROW SPACING

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of phosphorus (P) levels and row spacings on yield and yield components of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The field experiment was carried out at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2013. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were four row spacings (30, 40, 50 and 60 cm) and four P levels (0, 70, 100 and 130 kg ha^-1) in the form of SSP were used. Plots treated with 100 kg P ha^-1 produced maximum capsule length (2.66 cm), capsules plant^-1 (82), seeds capsule^-1 (60), 1000 seeds weight (3.64 g), seed yield (770 kg ha^-1), biological yield (4084 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (18.85 %) as compared with control plots. Row to row distance 60 cm had significantly maximum capsule length (2.57 cm), capsules plant^-1 (81), seeds capsule^-1 (56), 1000 seeds weight (3.42 g), seed yield (681 kg ha^-1), biological yield (4197 kg ha^-1) and harvest index (16.23 %) as compared with the other row spacings. It was concluded that application of P at the rate of 100 kg ha^-1 with row spacing 60 cm could improve yield and yield components of sesame in the agro-climatic conditions of Peshawar valley.

Key Words: (Sesamum indicum L.), row spacing, phosphorus levels, seed yield, yield

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