Response of Seed Yield, Yield Components and Oil Content to the Sesame Cultivar and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate Diversity

This study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, King Abdulaziz University at Hada El-Sham during 2007 and 2008 seasons to improve the seed yield of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia. Split plot design with four replications was used in this study. Main plot treatments were four nitrogen rates (0, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha) and the sub plot treatments were three diverse sesame cultivars, Saudi Local cv., Egyptian cv. “Shandaweel” and Sudanese cv. “Sudan-1”. The obtained results of the combined analysis of the two seasons showed significant interaction effects on the flowering date, plant height, No. of branches/plant, No. of fruits/plant, seed weight/plant and seed yield/ha, while no significant effects were found for the N fertilizer rate × cultivar interaction, nitrogen fertilizer or sesame cultivars on seed oil content. Saudi Local cv. under the 150 and 200 kg N/ha produced the highest significant seed yield/ha comparing with the other treatments. Seed yields/ha were 862.47 and 869.45 kg/ha for Saudi Local cv. under the 150 and 200 kg N/ha, respectively. Shandaweel cv. occupied the 2 rank concerning seed yield/ha with 733.37 and 729.89 kg/ha under 150 kg N/ha and 200 kg N/ha, respectively. Sudan-1 cv. produced the lowest seed yield under the different nitrogen fertilizer rates. Oil contents of the three cultivars were 45.37, 45.96 and 45.80%, for Saudi Local cv., Shandaweel cv. and Sudan-1 cv., respectively. F.S. El-Nakhlawy and M.A. Shaheen 22