Evaluation of planting time and population density on sesame crop development

Author

Kuruso, R.

Title

Evaluation of planting time and population density on sesame crop development

Abstract

This research explored how different planting times and plant population densities affect how sesame grows and how much it produces, focusing on small scale farmers in Zimbabwe. The field trials were held at Chipinge Coffee Research Station using 3 x 3 factorial treatment structure, laid in a randomized block design with three planting dates (2 January 2025, 22 Jan 2025 and 5 Feb 2025) and three plant densities (333 333; 250 000 and 222 222 plants per hectare). The experiment was replicated three times. The researcher looked at factors like plant height, number of branches, time to flowering, and grain yield. The results showed that planting earlier and using medium density (222 222plants/ha) led to better overall growth and productivity. This setup helped plants take full advantage of moisture and temperature conditions, supporting better development. Based on these findings, early planting and moderate spacing (30cm x 15cm) are recommended for smallholders aiming to get better sesame yields. The study also highlights the need for more research across different regions to fully understand the reasons behind these results.

Date

October 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

planting time

population density

sesame crop

farmers

Supervisor

Ms. Kamota