Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during the 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons at theTeaching and Research Farm of Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria (10015' N, 13016' Eand 696 m above sea level) to study the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) rates on somephenological and yield characteristics of sesame. The treatments consisted of four N rates: 0, 30,60 and 90 kg ha-1and four P rates: 0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1. These treatments in factorialcombinations were laid out in split plot design with N rates assigned to main plots and P ratesassigned to sub plots and were replicated four times. The following data were collected onphenological and yield characteristics: days to 50 % flowering, days to 50 % maturity, weight ofbiomass at eight weeks after sowing (WAS) and at harvest, dry weight of leaves at 8 WAS and atharvest, number of pods per plant and total seed yield. Results showed significant (P 0.05) effect on phenological and yield characteristics. Further research needs to be conducted on Nand P rates above 90 and 45 kg ha-1, respectively, to ascertain effects of optimum rates of N and Pon sesame phenological and yield characteristics. In addition, the method of P application in theform of side dressing 2 to 3 WAS should be considered for possible effects.
Highlights
The estimated yield of sesame on farmers’ fields in Nigeria which is about 300 kg ha -1 is too low, compared to 1083 kg ha-1 in Saudi Arabia, 1960 kg ha-1 in Venezuela, and 1295 kg ha-1 in Nigeria (Okpara et al 2007) under experimental station
Field experiments were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Adamawa State University, Mubi (Latitude 100 15’N and longitude 130 16’ E, at an altitude of 696 m above sea level) during the 2005 and 2006 cropping seasons
The non-significant effect of N rates on number of leaves at 8WAS and at harvest in the two cropping seasons might be due to the split application of N, meeting up with the N requirement
Summary
The estimated yield of sesame on farmers’ fields in Nigeria which is about 300 kg ha -1 is too low, compared to 1083 kg ha-1 in Saudi Arabia, 1960 kg ha-1 in Venezuela, and 1295 kg ha-1 in Nigeria (Okpara et al 2007) under experimental station. The low yield coupled with problems encountered during harvesting sesame have tended to discourage growers, leading to a decline in the total area devoted to its cultivation. Nigeria’s current annual export is valued at about 20 million USD and the country is the primary supplier of sesame seed to the world’s largest importer, Japan (Anon, 2002). Popularly called “big treasure in small capsules” is currently ranked as second best to cocoa in terms of export volume and value (Anon, 2004)
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