Influence of Irrigation Interval and Plant Population Density on Sesame Growth and Yield at High Terrace Soils

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of irrigation intervals and plant population density on growth and yield attributes of sesame for two successive seasons (2006/07 and 2007/08) in the Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Nile Valley University, Darmali, Sudan. The experiment was arranged in split-plot design with four replications. Treatments consisted of three irrigation intervals (7, 14 and 21 days), assigned to the main plots, and four plant populations (100,000, 150,000, 200,000 and 250,000 plants ha-1) to the sub-plots. Parameters recorded included: leaf area index (LAI), number of branches per plant, number capsules per plant, seed yield per plant, seed yield per unit area (kg ha-1), and 1000-seed weight. The results indicated that LAI after 60 days from sowing showed a significant difference among irrigation intervals and plant population density with time. The number of branches and capsules per plant increased significantly (P≤0.05) under short irrigation intervals and as plant density decreased. The heaviest 1000-seed weight (2.62 g) was obtained under 7 days irrigation interval. There was a significant interaction between irrigation intervals and plant densities on seed weight. A maximum seed yield of 450 to 463 kg ha-1 was obtained by plant densities of 150,000 and 200,000 plants ha-1, respectively in both seasons. Therefore, it can be concluded that, irrigation of 7 days interval with density of 200,000 plants ha-1 and gave the highest seed yield (955 Kg ha-1), so it recommended for sesame cultivation under tropical high terrace soil conditions.