Effect of Plant Population on the Productivity of Sesame in Zamfara State

Sesame is an important oilseed crop in northern Nigeria with significant export value, and establishing optimal plant population density for the semi-arid conditions of Zamfara State is important for maximising economic yield per unit land area. This study investigated the effect of three plant population densities (111,111, 166,667, and 333,333 plants per hectare, established through row spacings of 30 cm, 20 cm, and 10 cm within rows) on the growth and yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in Talata Mafara LGA, Zamfara State, North West Nigeria. A randomised complete block design with three replications was conducted during the 2023 rainy season using the improved E8 variety. Plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, seeds per capsule, seed weight, and seed yield were measured. Results showed that 166,667 plants ha-1 (20 cm intra-row spacing) produced the highest seed yield of 1.24 tonnes per hectare, significantly higher than the lowest density (0.89 t ha-1) and not significantly different from the highest density (1.19 t ha-1). At the highest plant population, branching and capsule numbers per plant were significantly suppressed by competition, compensating for the density advantage. The study concludes that a plant population of approximately 166,667 plants ha-1 is optimal for sesame production in Zamfara State semi-arid conditions and recommends this density for farmer field demonstrations coordinated by the Zamfara State ATMA.

Keywords: sesame, plant population density, seed yield, semi-arid, Zamfara State