Planting and harvesting sesame plants
Botany of Sesame Sesame is an annual (in some cases perennial) plant that grows to a height of 50 to 150 cm (20 to 60 inches) depending on the variety and environmental conditions. Some sesame cultivars have many branches, while others have no branches. The leaves vary in shape and size and may be contrasting or alternate. The color of sesame leaves is dark green. Trumpet-like flowers are white to pale pink and appear 6 to 8 weeks after planting. Flowering lasts for several weeks. Multiple flowering is enhanced by opposite leaves. Plant sesame is itself a pollinator, although some insects also help pollinate it. Learn more about the importance of pollination. The sesame fruit contains a grooved pod that is 2.5 to 7.5 (1 to 3 inches) long and contains 50 to 100 or more seeds. The seeds mature 4 to 6 weeks after fertilization. The time of sesame growing is unknown and as long as the weather conditions allow, this plant will continue to produce leaves, flowers and pods. Sesame seeds are small and come in a variety of colors including white, bronze, gold, gray, black and brown. A thousand sesame seeds weigh about 28 grams (1 ounce). Lighter seeds are of better quality.
weather
Commercial sesame cultivars need 90 to 120 days to grow away from the risk of frost. The average daily temperature of about 25 to 26 degrees Celsius (77 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) is favorable for the growth of the sesame plant. Growth slows down at temperatures below 20 ° C (68 ° F) and growth stops at 10 ° C (50 ° F). Sesame is very resistant to drought conditions. Part of this resistance is due to the extensive root system. However, for initial growth and germination and proper yield, sufficient moisture and a minimum rainfall of 50 to 66 cm (20 to 26 inches) is required. Lack of water in the stages of flowering, pod production and seed formation reduces the quality of the product. Moisture level before planting and flowering has the greatest effect on crop yield. Sesame is unable to withstand flooding conditions. High soil moisture increases the risk of shrub disease. Rainfall late in the growing season prolongs the growing season, increasing seed loss. This is one of the reasons for the failure of commercial sesame production in France. The beginning of flowering is sensitive to the duration of light exposure (day length) and this sensitivity varies in different cultivars. The amount of oil in sesame seeds increases with the length of the day. Because protein content and oil content are inversely related, grains with higher oil content have less protein.
Soil
The sesame plant adapts to a variety of soils, but in well-drained, fertile soils with moderate texture and neutral pH, it performs best. Sesame seems to improve soil structure with its branched root system. This plant has a low salinity tolerance and is vulnerable to wet conditions. The best soil for sesame cultivation is loamy-sandy soil. Heavy soils are not suitable for sesame planting due to lack of proper ventilation and high humidity. Sesame has a low salinity tolerance, so soil salinity should be determined before planting. Cultivation of sesame in clay soils is also not recommended due to the inability to disperse water and accumulate moisture in one area. We suggest you read how to improve saline and heavy soils.
Seed preparation and germination
Sesame seeds should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected with 75% Captain fungicide at a rate of 28 g / l to prevent rot. This treatment is especially important for cultivars resistant to fragility because the germination of these cultivars is slower. Because brittle cultivars stay in the soil longer, they are more susceptible to soil fungal diseases than resistant cultivars.
Bed preparation
Sesame needs a warm, moist, weed-free bed. Proper soil drainage is very important in sesame cultivation because this plant is very sensitive to water resistance at all stages of growth. Because sesame is grown late, repeated plowing can kill several periods of weeds. Due to the fact that sesame seeds are very small and their initial growth is slow, it is better that the planting bed is free of clods and flat.
Date of sesame planting
Sesame should not be planted before the soil temperature reaches 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit), approximately one month after the last severe or sudden frost. The best time to plant sesame is usually July. The planting date for the southern and warmer regions can be postponed to the first week of August. Due to the late maturity of native sesame cultivars and recommended species, cultivation should be done in the second half of July. Delays in sesame planting can cause the harvest to coincide with autumn rains and delay the next crop.
Methods and density of seed cultivation
What is the amount of sesame seeds per hectare?
Sesame can be grown in boxes for vegetables. Populations of 250,000 to 300,000 sesame plants per hectare grown in rows of 45 to 76 cm (18 to 30 inches) have the best yields.
Sesame cultivation distance
In leak irrigation, the row spacing is considered to be 10 to 50 cm, mainly in Cretaceous or brook crops. The distance between the plants is about 10 cm. If drip irrigation is possible, row spacing of 40 cm and plant spacing of 15 cm are considered. Single-branched cultivars are planted in rows at a distance of 30 cm and the distance between the plants is 5 cm. In traditional cultivation methods, plant spacing and planting density are adjusted by determining the amount of seed. It is very important to observe crop density in native cultivars and cultivars that have branches and prevent the plants from bending and dormant. Planting depth depends on the type of soil and its moisture content and varies from about 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches). Adherence to uniform planting depth and proper density is essential for better plant establishment and thus the best yield.
harvest
Sesame is ready to be harvested after 90 to 150 days from the date of planting. Processing usually starts from the lower branches. In general, single-branched cultivars mature faster. The crop must be harvested before the first hard frost to obtain good quality seeds. During maturation, the leaves and stems change color from green to yellow and red, and the leaves separate from the plant. Fragile and non-fragile cultivars have different harvesting methods. To reduce losses, care must be taken when harvesting. Sesame cultivars in Iran are often multi-branched and fragile and can not be harvested mechanically. Unbreakable cultivars can be harvested directly from the combine. Since the sesame pods are not taken care of all over the field and even at the same time, it is better not to wait for the full ripening of the crop because the ripe pods open and the seeds fall to the ground and disappear.