Effect of Plant Density on the Performance of Some Sesame (Sesamum indicum L) Cultivars under Rain fed

A field experiment was conducted during 2004/2005 rainy season at two locations (Fertangol and Kordofan University farm) in Sheikan District, North Kordofan State, Sudan, to investigate the effects of four levels of plant population on the performance of three cultivars of sesame (Sesamum indicum L): namely, Elobeid-1, Promo and Hirhri. The plants were sown at four plant densities: 83,333, 125,000, 166,666 and 249,999 plants ha-1. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in plant height, stem diameter, days to 50% flowering and maturity between plant densities. Increasing plant density significantly decreased the number of branches per plant, decreased the number of capsules per plant and seed yield per plant, but led to increased seed yield per unit area. There were no significant differences in harvest index between plant densities. The differences between the three cultivars were significant in some studied characters. Promo cultivar was taller, had longer capsule length, higher number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsule and had a lesser 1000seed weight. There were no significant differences in seed yield and harvest index between cultivars.