EFFECTS OF INTER-ROW SPACING AND PLANT DENSITY ON PERFORMANCE OF SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.) IN A NIGERIAN SUDAN SAVANNA

Field trials were conducted during 2006 and 2007 rainy seasons at the University of Maiduguri Teaching and Research Farm, Maiduguri, Nigeria, to determine the influence of inter-row spacing and plant density on growth, development and yield of sesame. The treatments comprised three inter-row spacing (25, 50 and 75 cm) and four plant densities (2, 4, 6 and 8 plants/stand). A split plot design was used where inter-row spacing was assigned to the main plot and plant density was assigned to the sub plot and replicated three times. Results showed that plant height significantly decreased with increase in inter-row spacing. The tallest plants were recorded for 25 cm at 3 and 6 WAS, but values declined significantly at closer inter rows as the growth period progressed. Dry stalk weight increased significantly with increase in spacing and plant density. Seed yield was significantly higher at 50 cm than 25 cm or 75 cm spacing in 2006 and slightly higher in 2007. The 75 cm spacing recorded significantly higher seed yield than 25 cm or 50 cm spacing for the combined mean. Seed yield was also significantly higher for 6 plants / stand than the other plant densities in 2006. In 2007, 4 plants / stand significantly realized higher seed yield than the other treatments. There were significant interactions on plant height, number of days to 50% flowering, seed yield and seed weight. The interactions showed that seed yield was significantly higher at 25 cm with 6 plants per stand in 2006 and at 25 cm with 4 plants per stand in 2007. The linear relationships showed that seed yield was negatively correlated with plant height at 3 WAS (r = - 0.87***), days to 50% flowering (r = - 0.67***), dry stalk weight (r = - 0.40***) and seed weight (r = - 0.71***). Seed weight was positively correlated with days to 50% flowering and dry stalk weight (r = 0.40*** to 0.68***). Grain yield of sesame could therefore be enhanced by sowing at 50 cm x 25 cm spacing with 4-6 plants per stand (320,000 - 480,000 plants/ha) to reduce plant competition in Nigeria's Sudan savanna.