Response of Two Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Cultivars to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization under Rain Fed Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons
(2002/2003 and 2003/2004) in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Sinnar, Abu Naama, Sudan. The objective was
to study the response of two sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars to
nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization under rain fed conditions. The
treatments were four nitrogen levels (0, 40, 80, 120 kgN/ha) and four
phosphorus levels (0, 50, 100, 150 kgP 2 O5 /ha). Urea (46% N) and
triplesuperphosphate (48% P 2 O5 ) were used as sources of nitrogen and
phosphorus, respectively. Two improved sesame cultivars, Khidir and
Promo, were used in the study. The experiment was laid out in a split-split
plot design with four replicates. Nitrogen treatments were assigned to the
main plots, whereas cultivars and phosphorus treatments were allotted to
the sub and sub-sub plots, respectively. The results showed that both
nitrogen and phosphorus had significant effects on plant height, shoot dry
weight, height to the first capsule, capsule number/plant, percentages of
capsules on the main stem and the branches and seed yield. The cultivars
showed significant differences in some growth and yield attributes, with
Promo exhibiting better growth and giving higher yield than Khidir.
There was significant interaction between cultivars and nitrogen on seed
yield in both seasons