Response of Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) Varieties to Different Sowing Dates in Lowland Irrigated Areas of Somali Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the yield performance of four sesame varieties at different sowing dates, with the aim of determining the optimum sowing date for improved sesame varieties in the lowland irrigated areas of the Somali Region. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. At each location, Idan, Barsan, Kelafo, and Serkamo, four sesame varieties and four sowing dates (mid-April, late April, mid-May, and late May) were used as treatments. The findings revealed that sesame varieties and sowing dates differed significantly in yield-related traits. The variety Idan (ACCOO44) recorded the highest number of capsules per plant (37.75) and biomass yield (2,489 kg/ha), while the Kelafo variety recorded the highest number of seeds per capsule (53.0), thousand seed weight (2.23 g), and grain yield (2,216 kg/ha). Plots sown in mid-April produced the highest values for number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, thousand seed weight (g), biomass yield (kg/ha), and grain yield (kg/ha) compared to the other sowing dates. In conclusion, both varietal differences and sowing dates had significant effects on the agronomic performance and yield of sesame, with mid-April sowing proving most favorable across all traits evaluated. Therefore, this research recommends that the two varieties, Kelafo and Idan (ACCOO44), be sown in mid-April to achieve higher grain and biomass yields in the study areas.