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SESAME PRODUCTION
PRACTICES IN PAKISTAN
Introduction
Sesame or "til"
is the most ancient crop cultivated for its oil in the
sub-continent. Its seeds contain between 50 and 58 % of very good
semi-drying oil, mostly with oleic and linoleic triglycerides. Its
oil is stable and does not rancid even after long exposure to air.
Sesame oil contains about 22 % and the cake about 42 % protein.
Sesame oil is used as foods (cooking and salad), medicine and soap
manufacturing etc. Its seeds and young leaves are eaten as stews and
soaps in Asia.
In Pakistan, the
average area under sesame was 30300 hectares during 1985-90, whereas
the average yield was 395 kg/ha. In the year of 1992-93, the area
and production increased upto 82200 hectors and 34000 tons/ha and
yield was 414 kg/ha. During 1996-97, both the area and production of
sesame again increased to the tune of 99500 hectares and 45000
tons/ha and yield also increased to 452 kg/ha. During 1998-99 the
area and production decreased upto 20 % while yield kg/ha remained
the same as in previous years. According to FAO estimates, Honduras
and Egypt are the leading countries producing yield of 1267 and 1063
kg/ha, respectively. It has been proved in the country and abroad
that the yield potential of the "til" cultivars is upto
2000 kg/ha. Therefore, the farmers must increase the area under this
crop and adopt below mentioned technology recommendations to boost
per unit area productivity of sesame in the Pakistan.
Improved Production Technology
Climate
Sesame is mostly
grown on light sandier soil as rain-irrigated crop in the semi arid
tropics and require high temperature of 35-40 C for vegetative and
reproductive growth. This crop can mainly be grown in kharif season,
and is very sensitive to excessive rainfall and water logging.
Land Selection
lthough sesame grows
best on high fertilize soils, yet most suitable soils are those that
posses the following properties:
-
Sandy soil free from hard pans,
-
good Texture soil,
-
Unlikely to crust after rain
-
Acid free soil
-
Not prompt to water logging
Seedbed Preparation
After soaking
irrigation or rain, 2-3 ploughings and 1-2 planking are enough to
prepare fine level seed beds to ensure even seed germination.
Sowing Time
As kharif crop,
the following sowing times are observed throughout the country for
sesame cultivations:
- Punjab
Ist July - 31st July
- Sindh
15th June - 15th July
- NWFP 15th
June - 31st July
- Balochistan
Ist July - 31st July
Seed Rate
Optimum planting
density (222000 plants/ha) or 22 plants per meter is very important
for high yields. To ensure good germination and crop establishment,
seeds with germination percentage of 85-90 % must be planted. The
optimum seed rate is recommended as under:
a) Line sowing 5
kg/ha (2 klg per acre)
b) Broadcasting 8
kg/ha (3 kg per acre)
Los of 100 plants per
hectare results in loss of 30 rupees per hectare
Method of Planting
a. Hand
Drill/ wheat drill
- Drill the seed in
lines (45 cm apart) in good moisture (water) condition. Ensure that
seed placement should be at depth of 2-2/12 cm.
b. Tractor
mounted Drill
In case of Tractor
mounted drill, prior to sowing, check the drill thoroughly and
tractor speed should not exceed 8 km/hour to avoid the uneven sowing
depth and seed placement.
Sowing Depth
Surface moisture
influences the sowing depth and ultimately the seed germination. To
achieve satisfactory germination, shallow depth of 2-2 1/2 cm is
recommended. Deep sowing will result in poor emergence. As the
temperature in Kharif season (June , July) is near 40 C, seed depth
can be maintained at 3.5 cm (1 1/2 inch) to avoid drying effect and
ultimately better plant emergence.
Fertilizer
Soil fertility is the
major manageable factor in sesame production. Nutrient balance is of
vital importance. To achieve the best results, apply the fertilizers
as mentioned below:
a. Urea (1/2 bag) +
DAP (1 bag)/ acre or,
b. Urea (1/2 bag)+
Nitrophos (1 bag)/ acre
Apply either
combination prior to sowing
Irrigation
Usually 3-4
irrigation are required during whole season. Number of irrigation
varies with the environmental conditions. In case of no rain, first
irrigation should be give at 15-20 days after sowing(DAS). Second
irrigation be also given after 30-40 DAS. Third irrigation at the
time of flowering, because the irrigation at flowering, capsule
formation and seed development is necessary to avoid moisture stress
at these stages in order to ensure better yield formation.
Thinning and Hoeing
Plant emergence takes
about 5-6 days after sowing. When the plants attain height of 10-15
cm, single out the weak and diseases plants by keeping 10 cm spacing
between plants following 222000 plants/ha. First hoeing is done
after 15-20 days and second after 30 days of germination with khurpa
or Tarphali.
Improved Varieties
The following
commercial sesame varieties should be planted.
- Pb.Til-90, -
P-37-40, - Til-93,
- S-17, - PR-19-9, -
Ts-3
In addition, there
are various promising and improved pipeline varieties developed by
Oilseed Res Programme at National Agricultural Research Center (NARC),
Islamabad. These include:
Rattodero-1,
Rattodero-2, Sanghar-1, Johi-1, VCR No.5, S-209.
The yield potential
of these improved varieties is upto 1800 kg/ha.
Weed Control
During the first
few weeks after emergence, the sesame seedlings are very sensitive
to weeds, hence an effective weed control measure is vital during
this period. Different types of perennial grasses, like Khabbal,
Baroo and annual broad leaved weeds like Cholai, Hazardani, Bakhra
and Tandlla compete the crop in rainfed as well as irrigated areas.
These weeds can easily be controlled by adopting cultural methods
(crop rotation and tillage practices) and chemical weed methods
depending on weed species, degree of infestation and weather pattern
etc. However reemergence herbicide (Stomp 330 E) @ 1.48 ai kg/ha can
be used before germination and is very effective in controlling wide
range of grasses and broad leaf weeds.
Crop Rotation
As sesame is a deep
root crop and needs high level of fertility. Therefore, in rotation
leguminous crops like Mung and Mash should be included along with
sesame as under:
Sesame Wheat Mong
Sesame Wheat Mash
Harvesting and
Thrashing
Sesame crop
matures in about 100-=120 days. The crop must be harvested in time
to avoid losses in yield due to shattering. The crop should be
harvested when 75 % capsules are ripened and become (yellow
colored). Make bundles and stalked upright for drying. In this way
the capsules get nutrient and the seeds develops fully. One week
after harvesting, thrashing should be done in clear weather so that
seeds could also be dried prior to storage with at least 10 %
moisture content.
Seed Production
If the farmer
follow all the recommendations as mentioned above, seed yield of
1000-1200 kg/ha that amounts to Rs.50-60 thousand /ha can very
easily be produced. However, the commercial varieties of sesame have
yield potential of about 1500 kg/ha. These new high yielding and
promising varieties are nearly to be released for general
cultivation to the farmers through out the country.
Diseases of Sesame
The followings are the major
diseases in sesame:
-
Charcoal rot
-
Alternaria leaf spot
-
Bacterial leaf spot
-
Bacterial blight
-
Phyllody
-
Root wilting
Control Measures:
The diseases
management programme should include the following methods:
a. Use healthy
seed of resistant varieties
b. Prior to
sowing, treat the seed with one of the systemic fungicides, (captafol,
Therain, Dithane M-45 and Benlate) @ 2-3 gm/kg of seed to protect
from fungal diseases.
c. Use proper
cultural practices (rotation and tillage)
d. spray the
crop with captafol, Dithane- M45 @ 1 kg/acre in 100 liter of water
and Tecto and Benlate @ 500 gm/acre after 10-15 days interval for
bacterial disease, spray streptocycline @ 0.3 gm in 100 liters (25
gallon) of water/ha. Treat the seeds before planting with
antibiotics (streptomycin @ 100 ppm).
Major Insects
In general sesame is
not damaged by insects. However, the main insects of sesame crops as
under:
- Whitefly - Leaf
roller
- Til gallfly - Til
Hawk moth
Chemical Control
For the control of
larvae of leaf roller, till hawk moth, whitefly and leaf hopper,
spray Dimecron 100 % @ 200 to 250 ml/acre or Methyl Parathion @ 350
to 500 m/acre or Somicidin 20 EC @ 250 ml/acre or Karate @ 250-300
ml/acre mixed in 100 to 150 liters of water at 10-15 days interval,
two times in case the attack is sever. In case of cutworms, spray
with Lorsban @ 400 ml ai/acre, Sevin @ 800 gm ai/acre or Sumicidin @
120 ml ai/acre.
Source:
Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council |