Phenological and Morpological Traits of Sesame as Affected by Irrigation, Tillage Systems and Phousphours Levels

Despite the importance of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in the world, this crop has received only little research attention in Pakistan. Therefore, a field trail was conducted at New Developmental Farm of The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan during summer 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Irrigation interval (9 days, 18 days and 27 days) and tillage system (conventional tillage with cultivator, deep tillage with chisel plough and shallow tillage with MBP) were allotted to main plots, while phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) were allotted to sub plots. Irrigation interval significantly affected all the parameters. Water supply at 9 days interval had delayed days to first flowering (50), maximum plant height (180 cm), branches plant-1 (10), capsule length (2.71 cm), leaves plant-1 (23) and stover yield (5667 kg ha-1) as compared with other irrigation intervals but first capsule distance from ground is recorded greater in 27 days irrigation interval. Tillage system had significant effects on all the parameters, except days to first flowering, capsule length, first capsule distance from ground and leaves plant-1. Conventional tillage produced maximum plant height (168 cm), branches plant-1 (9) and stover yield (5105 kg ha-1) as compared with deep and shallow tillage system. Phosphorus application had also significantly affected all parameters except days to first flowering. Plots treated with 60 kg P ha-1 produced maximum plant height (178 cm), branches plant-1(9), capsule length (2.68 cm), leaves plant-1 (21) and stover yield (5538 kg ha-1) as compared with control plots but first capsule distance from ground is greater in control plot. Application of water at 9 days interval with conventional tillage method and treated with 60 kg P ha-1 had maximum plant height, leaves plant-1 and stover yield. Keywords: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), tillage systems, irrigation intervals, phousphours levels, phenology, morpholog