YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.) VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY POTASSIUM RATES IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted to study the influence of potassium levels on yield, oil content, and antioxidant (tocopherol) content of sesame at Dawakin Kudu (DKD) and Bichi (BCH), both located in the Sudan savannah ecological zone of Nigeria, during the 2018 rainy season. The treatment consisted four (4) levels of potassium (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha^-1) and two (2) varieties of sesame (Ex Sudan and E8), these were factorially combined to eight treatments and laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated four times. Each plot consisted of 6 ridges, 3 x 4 m (12 m^-2), and the net plot size consisted of the two inner ridges, 3 m x 1.5 m (4.5 m^-2), with a discard of 0.5 m and 1.0 m between the plots and replications, respectively. The results of the experiment showed that, number of capsules per plant, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, oil content, and tocopherol content did not change significantly (P > 0.05) when 50 kg ha^-1 of K fertilizer was applied. But when it came to yielding more capsules per plant than E8 (28.9), the Ex-sudan (41.8) variety fared better at DKD location. Therefore, it is advised that farmers in the research region cultivate sesame using the Ex Sudan-variety and use 50 kg of potassium fertilizer per hectare to maintain sesame's output, oil content, and tocopherol level.