EFFECT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND SOWING METHODS ON PERFORMANCE OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.) VARIETIES IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching and Research farm, Bauchi in 2018, 2019 and 2020 rainy seasons to study Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Sowing Methods on performance of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Varieties. The treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 30, 60 and 90kg N/ha), three sowing methods (dibbling, drilling and broadcasting) and two varieties of sesame (Ex – Sudan 1 and NCRI BEN 01M). The experiment was factorially combined and laid out in to a Randomized Complete Block Design and replicated three times. The result of the experiment revealed that, nitrogen fertilizer had significant (P≤0.05) effect on growth characters of sesame plant. The application of nitrogen fertilizer at 60kg/ha significantly (P≤0.05) increased plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem girth, number of branches, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, crop growth rate, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate in the 3 years of study. It was also observed that sowing method had significant (P≤0.05) influence on the performance of the crop. Dibbling method of sowing significantly (P≤0.05) produced higher plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, stem girth, number of branches than the other two sowing methods. Studies carried out during the 3-year indicated that 2020 rainy season produced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, stem girth, number of branches than 2018 and 2019 seasons. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the application of 60kg N/ha and dibbling method of sowing can be adopted by farmers in the study area for optimum production.