Influence of poultry manure application on growth and yield performance of accessions of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in a derived savanna transition zone of South eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A two-year study was carried out in the research farm of the Department of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to test the effects of accessions and poultry manure rates on the growth and yield of sesame in the derived savannah zone of south eastern Nigeria. Three rates of poultry manure (0, 5 and 10 tons/ha) and four accessions of sesame (Zuru, NCRI-BEN O1M, 43 – 9 – 1 and NCRI-BEN O3L) were tested. The experiment was laid out in a 3 × 4 factorial experiment in randomized complete block design in three replications. The result showed that the application of poultry manure significantly promoted sesame growth and yield. Seed yield/ha was increased by 24 and 78% as manure rate was increased from 0 to 5 and 10 tons/ha, respectively, in 2009 season. In 2010, it was increased by 96 and 155% with the same increase in the rate of poultry manure. The accessions differed significantly in growth and yield parameters. Accession Zuru produced the highest seed yield/ha of 1146 and 543 kg in 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively, among the accessions. There was also significant manure × accession interaction. Accession Zuru treated with 10 tons/ha poultry manure rate produced the highest seed yield/ha in both years. Key words: Sesame, poultry manure, accessions, derived savanna.