Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) Growth, Yield, Yield Components and Weed Infestation as Influenced by Different Sowing Methods and Seed Rates in a Sudano-Sahelian Savanna Agroecology of Nigeria II

Trials were conducted during year 2001 and 2002 rainy season to determine the influence of sowing method and seed rate on sesame growth, yield and yield components and weed infestation at Ngala, Borno State, Nigeria. Results showed that broadcast method of sowing produced taller plants and higher number of pods and flowers per plant compared with drilling method both in year 2001and 2002 and the average of the two years. However, drilling method produced lower weed dry matter and weed cover compared with broadcast method in the two years and average of the two years data. The number of pods/plant and plant height increased with increase in seed rate reaching a peak at 6 kg ha 1 seed rate and thereafter these characters declined. The number of flowers produced per plant also declined with increase in seed rate. Seed yield per hectare increased with increase in seed rate, reaching a peak at 6 kg ha 1 and then declined in 2001and the average of the two years data. There was no interaction between sowing method and seed rate.