Effects of Different Sowing Dates and Planting Densities on Yield and Quality of Autumn Sesame in Jiangxi Province

The effects of different sowing dates and planting densities on the agronomic traits,economic characters,yield and quality of autumn sesame in the red-soil dryland of Jiangxi province were studied.The results indicated that sowing date had significant effects on the plant height,fruit-axis length on main stem,and single-plant dry matter weight of sesame; sesame had the highest plant height and the biggest single-plant dry matter weight when it was sown on July 1st.Planting density had significant effects on the position of initial capsule,and fruit-axis length on main stem of sesame; when planting density increased,the position of initial capsule revealed a rising trend,and the fruit-axis length on main stem showed a shortening tendency.Sowing date had significant effects on both the number of capsules per plant and the yield of sesame,and earlier sowing date was beneficial to the increase in the number of capsules per plant and the yield.Both planting density and sowing date had no significant influence on the oil content in sesame.The optimum sowing date and planting density were July 10 th and 450000 plant/hm2,respectively; under this combined condition,the yield of sesame was the highest,being 1147.5kg /hm2.