Sesame agronomy in south-east tanzania. i. plant population and sowing method

Field trials are described in which the seed yield response of row-sown sesame to increasing plant population was examined, and in which row-sowing was compared with broadcasting at different seed rates. Maximum yields were obtained at an intended 200 to 250 × 10³ plants ha⁻¹ but yields were not greatly affected by a wider range of populations. Broadcasting, the normal local practice, gave yields slightly higher than those from rows 50 cm apart, the un-thinned rate of 800 × 10³ viable seeds sown ha⁻¹ yielded as well as treatments thinned to the optimum population, and double this seed rate, unthinned, gave the lowest yields, especially in rows.