INFLUENCE OF NITROGEN AND PLANT POPULATION ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF SESAME

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the influence of four nitrogen levels and plant population on the growth and yield attributes of sesame at the agronomy research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from March to July. 2009. The experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design comprising three replications. The treatments included four levels of nitrogen viz.0, 30, 45 and 60 kg ha' and four levels plant population density viz.166666, 222222, 333333 and 666666 plants hi'. Results indicated that (different levels of N fertilizer and plant population had significant effects on yield and yield attributes of sesame. lThe addition of N levels resulted in the increasing of yield and yield attributes of sesame and the highest plant height (115.50 cm), branches plant' (4.57), capsules branches-' (17.36), total capsules planit (80.32), number of effective capsules plant' (76.47), capsule length (2.38 cm), seeds capsule1 (70.13), filled seeds capsuled (68.31). 1000 seeds weight (3.46 g). seed yield (1.50 t hi') and harvest index (24.45%) were obtained from 60 kg N ha On the other hand, increasing of plant population resulted increases in yield and yield attributes of sesame like plant height, unfilled seeds capsule1, seed yield, stover yield and harvest index. The highest seed yield of sesame plant (1.50 t hi1 ), stover yield (4.64 t hi') and harvest index (24.45%) were found from 666666 plants hi' plant population. The combined effect of nitrogen levels and plant population had a significant effect on the plant parameters of sesame. The highest branches plant' (5.12). capsules branch1 (19.07), total capsules plant' (97.55), number of effective capsules plant' (93.75), capsule length (2.79 cm), seeds capsule1 (84.63), filled seeds capsul&t (82.88), 1000 seeds weight (3.65 g) were recorded from 166666 plants hi' in combination with 60 kg N hi' applied but highest plant height (120.00 cm), seed yield (1.76 t hi'). stover yield (5.07 t hi') and harvest index (25.73%) were obtained from the 666666 plants hi' in combination with 60 kg N hi' applied.