Effect of seed rate and nitrogen fertilizer on weed species composition, density and diversity in two sesame varieties

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of seed and nitrogen rates on weed species composition, density, biomass and diversity in two sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties, a field experiment was conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons at Samaru, Nigeria. Four seed rates, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha⁻¹, four nitrogen rates, 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha⁻¹ and two sesame varieties NCRIBEN 01M and E8 were arranged as factorial in a split plot design. Weeds with the highest important values in sesame field were Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Ludwigia decurrens, Ageratum conyzoides and Cyperus esculentus. Year had a significant effect on weed density, biomass, diversity, evenness and richness. Weed density, biomass, diversity and richness were lowest in the 2011 trial and weed species evenness in 2009. Variety E8 reduced weed biomass better than NCRIBEN 01M. Averaged over years, weed diversity and evenness were lowest at 4 kg seeds ha⁻¹. Seed × nitrogen rates effect of 4 kg seed ha⁻¹ and 30 kg  N ha⁻¹ produced the lowest weed species diversity and evenness. The result suggests that variety E8 at 4 kg seed ha⁻¹ and 30 kg N ha⁻¹ with hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS may provide better weed control, and it is recommended in sesame production.

Keywords:

• weed species composition
• weed species diversity
• evenness
• richness
• sesame

Acknowledgements

We thank the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Nigeria, for providing the field and other institutional support for the execution of this study. We also acknowledge National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, Nigeria, for providing the sesame varieties used in this study.