Authors : H.E. Shehu, J.D. Kwari and M.K. Sandabe
Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted during the dry spell of 2005 in the screen house at the FAO/TCP farm of the Adamawa State University, Mubi to assess the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrition on the productivity sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of four rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 37.5, 75 and 112.5 kg ha-1), three rates of phosphorus (0, 22.5 and 45 kg ha-1) and three rates of potassium (0, 22.5 and 45 kg ha-1) that were laid out in a completely randomized block design replicated three times. Results showed that highest number of branches, leaves, seeds per pod, seed yield and dry matter was recorded from the highest N rate of 112.5 kg ha-1. Optimum number of leaves and dry matter was attained at 112.5 kg N ha-1, while number of pods and seed yield were attained at 75 kg N ha-1. Number of seeds per pod was not significantly affected by N application. Sesame height and number of branches were optimum at 22.5 kg P ha-1 while number of leaves, seeds per pod, seed yield and dry matter were optimum at 45 kg P ha-1. K fertilizer did not significantly affect the number of branches, seeds per pod, seed yield and dry matter while number of leaves and pods were optimum at 22.5 and 45 kg K ha-1, respectively. In conclusion, application of 75 kg N ha-1, 45 kg P ha-1 and 22.5 kg K ha-1 produced the highest seed yield.
H.E. Shehu, J.D. Kwari and M.K. Sandabe, 2009. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Nutrition of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) in Mubi, Nigeria. Research Journal of Agronomy, 3: 32-36.