Impact of Sowing Interval on the Yield and Yield Contributing Traits of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) under the Tropical Circumstance

Abstract

Abstract The experiment was conducted to study the impact of sowing interval on the yield and yield contributing traits of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), under the tropical circumstance, during 2016, at the research area present near Faculty of Agriculture, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Science, Uthal, Balochistan. Experimental treatments were comprising three varieties of sesame, SV1 (TS-5), SV2 (TH-6) and SV3 (4002), and cultivated under different three sowing dates, at 15 days interval: S1 = 1st sowing (15 March 2016), S2 = 2nd sowing (1st April 2016) and S3 =3rd sowing (15 April 2016). The results of various observations, i.e. plant height at maturity (cm), 1000-seed weight (g), seed mass (t ha−1), yield index (%) rooting depth (cm) and root weight per plant was found to be significant both for the all the sowing dates and sesame genotypes. Non significant finding was observed in traits of biological yield per plant (g) and root-shoot ratio. Whereas interaction among all the treatment factors was non-significant. Maximum yield and yields contributing parameters was observed in S3 = 3rd sowing (15 April 2016) and sesame genotype SV1 (TS-5), followed by SV2 (TH-6), while minimum yield was noted in S3 = 3rd sowing (15 April 2016) and SV3 (4002) sesame genotypes. On the basis of the coastal agroclimatic condition of district Lasbela, it was concluded that maximum yield production was achieved from the sesame variety (TS-5), as compared to other two sesame (TH-6 and 4002) varieties. Sowing date of sesame at 15th April 2016 was more productive, as compared to the other sowing interval. Coastal climatic condition is feasible for sesame cultivation, especially for the sesame variety (TS-5).