Growth parameters of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) as affected by chemical and manual weed control methods in Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out during 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at the Dry Land Teaching and Research Farm of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (latitude 130 01’N, longitude 50 15’E and 350m above sea level) in the Sudan Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, to study the effect of chemical and manual weed control methods on the growth performance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). Three herbicides: butachlor, glyphosate and pendimethalin were used at three rates each (butachlor at 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 kg a.i. ha^-1, glyphosate at 0.82, 1.23, 1.64 kg a.i. ha^-1, and pendimethalin at 0.50 0.75 and 1.00 kg a.i. ha^-1) and three manual weeding regimes (weedy check, weeding at 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and weed free throughout the crop life cycle) laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. The results revealed that plant height, crop vigour score, number of leaves and branches per plant were significantly and positively affected by the chemical weed control. Growth attributes of sesame were equally positively affected by manual weed control. Chemical weed control with pendimethalin at 0.50 kg a. i. ha^-1 produced maximum effect in plant height, while pendimethalin at 1.00 kg ha^-1 significantly produced more branches per plant in 2007 season.