Effects of variety and sowing method on weed control and crop yield in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in a Southern Guinea Savanna location of Nigeria

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the rainy reasons of 2001 and 2002 at Minna, Nigeria, to evaluate the performance of nine sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties (Cross 90, Yandev 55, Ex – Ankpa, Ex – Adefar, Ex – Ijegun, Ex – Guma, Ex – Eke, Institute and Ex – Kachias) under dibble and broadcast sowing methods on weed control and crop yield. The seeds were sown at 4 kg ha-1 by dibbling at 10 cm intra-row spacing on ridges 60 cm apart and by broadcasting on flat seed beds each measuring 2 x 6 m. The experimental design was split plot with three replications. The treatments assigned to the main plot were crop varieties, and sub-plot were sowing methods. The results indicated that crop varieties significantly differed in their ability to suppress weed density or dry matter in the two years of study. Also, crop varieties significantly affected number of branches/plant, number of capsules/plant, 1000 grain weight and grain yield. Broadcast sowing method significantly suppressed weeds in terms of density and dry matter more than dibbling. However, dibbling the seeds significantly produced more branches/plant, capsules/plant and higher grain yield than broadcasting the seeds.