Growth and yield components of sesame (Sesamum indicum L. landrace matsai) in response to plant population and nitrogen rate, at Gwebi, Zimbabwe
Date
2011-02-22
Authors
Mujaya, Ishmael Mashange
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Abstract
The seed yield of sesame in Zimbabwe is low compared to other countries, yet the crop is gaining in economic significance. A trial was therefore conducted at Gwebi, Zimbabwe, to evaluate the effects of plant population and fertilizer nitrogen rate on the yield and yield components of sesame (sesamum indicum L.) landrace matsai. Plant population, intened were 100 000, 200 000, 300 000, and 400 000 plants ha-1. Nitrogen was assessed at four levels of 0, 30, 60, 90kg N ha-1. the experiment was arranged in a split plot design, with population as the main plot factor and nitrogen rate as the sub-plot factor. The treatment combinations were replicated three times. Parameters derived or measured were plant nitrogen concentration, plant height, branch number/plant, capsule number/plant, seed number/capsule, seed weight/capsule, seed yield, and oil content. Due to poor emergence and disease attack, the actual plant population received were 78 000, 105 000, 185 000, and 224 000 plants ha-1 instead of 100 000, 200 000, 300 000 and 400 000 plants ha-1 respectively. Neither plant population nor nitrogen level any statistically significant effect on leaf nitrogen concentration, plant height, seed number/capsule, seed weight/capsule, seed yield, or oil content. Although analysis of variance showed that seed yield response to these factors was not significant, trend analysis showed that the linear effects of both factors were significant. seed yield was positively and significantly correlated with plant height and plant population. Nitrogen applications above 30 kg ha-1 significantly increrased stem nitrogen concentration over the control only. Increasing population decreased combined leaf and stem nitrogen concentration from 0.151 gN/plant at 78 000 plants ha-1 to 0.124g N/plant at 224 000 plants ha-1 but the decrease was not statisically significant. combined stem and leaf nitrogen concentration significantly increased with increase in nitrogen rate from 0.110g N/plant at 0 kg N ha-1 to 0.165 g N/plant at 60kg N ha-1. Brunch number/plant (BNP) significantly decreased from 15.36 at 78 000 plants ha-1 to 8.95 at 185 000 plants ha-1. Branch number per plant at 185 000 plants ha-1 was not statistically different from the 7.87 recorded at 224 000 plants plants ha-1. increasing population from 78 000 to 105 000 plants ha-1 did not produce significant differences in BNP at 0, 30 and 60 kg N ha-1, but had no significant interactive effect, whereby BNP decreased from 16.5 at 78 00 plants ha-1 to 10.2 at 105 000 plants ha-1, whereby BNP decreased from 16.5 at 78 000 plants ha-1 to 10.2 at 105 000 plants ha-1. Nitrogen level alone had no significant effect on BNP. capsule number/plant (CNP) significantly decreased with increase in population from 199.6 at 78 000 plants ha-1 to 103.1 at 224 000 plants ha-1. the effect of nitrogen rate on CNP was not significant. capsule number per plant was positively and significantly correlated with BNP but negatively and significanlty correlated with population. the data obtained showed that on this site nitrogen application up to 90 kg ha-1 and increasing plant population between 78 000 and 224 000 plants ha-1 had no influence on sesame yields
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Keywords
seed yield of Sesame in Zimbabwe , landrace matsai