Effect of Sowing Methods, Seed Rate and Variety on Yield and Seed Quality of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and Its Implication on Returns in Sudan Savanna of Nigeria

An experiment to determine the effect of sowing method, seed rate and variety on the yield and seed quality of sesame (Sesamum indicum L) and its implication on returns was conducted at Kano and Dutse, in the sudan ecological zone of Nigeria during 2009 rainy season. The treatments evaluated consisted of three sowing methods (broadcasting, dibbling and drilling), four seed rate (2.5/ha, 5.0/ha, 7.5/ha and 10.0/ha Kg-1) and two varieties (Ex-Sudan and E8). The result shows that, 1000-seed weight was significantly affected by the treatments at both locations where dibbling method produced heavier seed weight, seed rate of 2.5 kg/ha resulted in more seed per plant while 5.0 kg/ha of seed produced significantly more yield per hectare. Proximate analysis of the seeds was carried out. Crude protein and oil content of the seed were not significantly affected by the sowing method and variety. It is therefore recommended that, adopting drilling method of planting with the seed rate of 5.0 kg/ha would increase the yield per unit that could increase the returns accrued to the sesame growers.