Sesame (<i>Sesamum indicum</i> L.) yield loss estimation with common cocklebur (<i>Xanthium strumarium</i> L.) interference

Abstract

Common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) is the most prevalent weed for sesame in Turkey. Sesame yield decreased by the increasing densities of common cocklebur. The asymptotic weed-free yield of sesame was 1863 kg ha^-1 in 2005 and 1931 kg ha^-1 in 2006, while the yield was estimated to be 239 and 424 kg ha^-1 at the 7 plant m^-1 crop row of common cocklebur density in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Common cocklebur dry biomass per plant decreased as the weed density increased, while total weed dry biomass per meter of crop row increased with the weed density. The sesame yield was adversely affected by common cocklebur dry biomass accumulation.

Key words: Sesame, common cocklebur, yield, biomass.