Effect of Irrigation Frequency and Weed Management on Growth and Yield of Sesame

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), a vital oilseed crop, faces productivity challenges due to irrigation and weed management issues. This study aimed to investigate the impact of irrigation frequency and weed management on the growth and yield of sesame, conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Bangladesh, using a split-plot design with four levels of irrigation (I₀: no irrigation, I₁: one irrigation at 20 DAS, I₂: two irrigations at 20 and 40 DAS, I₃: three irrigations at 20, 40, and 60 DAS) and four weed management strategies (W₀: no weeding, W₁: one hand weeding at 20 DAS, W₂: two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAS, W₃: post-emergent herbicide application at 20 and 40 DAS). Results showed that three irrigations (I₃) significantly increased plant height, branching, and seed yield (1.282 t ha⁻¹), while weed control using herbicides (W₃) or combined hand weeding (W₂) minimized competition, yielding the highest seed output (1.171 t ha⁻¹). Differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). These findings emphasize that adopting efficient irrigation schedules and integrated weed management can sustainably boost sesame productivity, providing valuable insights for farmers and researchers targeting yield improvements in resource-limited settings.