Performance of sesame varieties (<i>Sesemum indicum</i> L.) as influenced by period of stress and NPK fertilizer rates in the Sudan Savannah

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa to evaluate the response of sesame varieties to stress period and NPK fertilization in Sudan savannah. The treatments were two sesame varieties (NCRIBEN 01 and NCRIBEN 03) three water stress period (at seedling, flowering and podding stages), three NPK application rates (200, 270 and 340 kg NPKha^-1). The experimental design used was randomized complete block design (RCBD) laid out in a split plot arrangement where the factorial combination of fertilizer rates and water stress periods were assigned to the main plot and varieties allocated to the sub plot and replicated three times.  Results showed that variety NCRIBEN 03 recorded more capsules and higher capsule weight per plant and a grain yield of 1111.4 kg ha^-1 and 1168.8kgha^-1, in 2012/13 and 2013/14 dry seasons respectively.  Stressing sesame at podding lead to 17 and 29% decline in number of pods and pod weight per plant, respectively and31% drop in grain yield.  Application of 340 kg NPK fertilizer ha1 had highest yield of 1018 and 1078 kg ha^-1 in 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons, respectively. The use of variety NCRIBEN 03 + 340 kg NPK fertilizer ha1+ stressing sesame at seedling stage will give best grain yield of sesame.