Evaluation of Sesame Yield and Yield Component under Different NPSZnB Fertilizer Rates in Western Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Sesame is one of the most popular oil crops in the Western Tigray Ethiopia. Blended fertilizers containing N, P, S, Zn and B have been recommended to ameliorate site specific nutrient deficiencies in different districts of Tigray. Field experiment was conducted during rainfall season of 2018 and 2019 to study the effect of NPSZnB fertilizer on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in vertisols of Western Tigray at the Humera station, Banat and Kebabo Kafta Humera and Tsegede Wereda’s. The treatments consisted of six levels of NPSZnB 0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1 and one blanket recommendation NP was applied. Data were recorded on sesame yield and yield components. The results revealed that addition of graded rate of NPSZnB significantly increased yield and yield attributes over the control. Analysis of variances showed that grain yield, number of capsule per plant, number of seeds per capsule and number of branching per plant was significant differences at (P< 0.001). Grain yield increases from 421 kg ha-1 to 630.1 kg ha-1 as NPSZnB increases from 0 (control) to 150 kg ha-1 and 421 kg ha-1 to 626.2 kg ha-1 as NP increases from 0 (control) to 41 N kg and 46 P205 kg ha-1 respectively. But NPSZnB was not significant with blanket recommendation of NP (41 kg N and 46 kg P205 ha-1), this indicates that either the blend or blanket NP can be used but not one to replace the other.