Sesame (Sesamum indicum. L) Growth, Yield, Yield Components and Weed Infestation as Influenced by Sowing Method and Different Seed Rates in a Sudan Savanna Agro-Ecology of Nigeria I

摘要

The influence of seed rates and sowing methods of planting on sesame (Sesamum indicum. L) growth, yield, yield components and weed infestation was conducted at Maiduguri Nigeria, during the 2001 and 2002 rainy seasons. Results showed that broadcast method of sowing produced taller plants in 2002 and the average of two years data, pods per plant compared with drilling method in both years and the average of two years data. Similarly, plant height, number of flowers and pods per plant decreased with increase in seed rate with 15 kg ha 1 seed rate producing significantly lowest of these characters in 2001 and the average of two years data. Broadcast method of sowing produced significantly higher weed cover and weed dry matter in 2001, 2002 and average of two years data compared with drilling method. Also, the amount of weed dry matter and weed cover decreased with increase in seed rate up to 12 kg ha1and 15 kg ha 1 seed rate producing the highest weed cover and weed dry matter in 2001, 2002 and the average of two years data. Drilling method of sowing produced the higher yield compared with broadcast method although the difference was not significant. Similarly, seed rate of 6 kg ha 1 produced the highest seed yield ha 1 compared with higher seed rates in the two years and it is only in the average of the two years data that differences in yield was significant. Therefore, for better sowing method and optimum yield, drilling method and 6 kg ha 1 seed rate are, respectively recommended for Maiduguri situated in a Sudan Savanna agro-ecology of Nigeria.