This presentation was delivered in 2016 to complete the module of "Cereals and other Field Crop Production" for the B.Sc in Export Agriculture degree program at the University of Uva Wellassa, Sri Lanka.

1. SESAME
Sumudu Shashikala Jayaweera
B.Sc in Export Agriculture
Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka
“QUEEN OF OILS SEEDS”
16-May-2016

2. Content
Ø Introduction
Ø Scientific classification
Ø Morphology
Ø Growth stages
Ø Management practices
Ø Post harvest technology
Ø Value addition
2

3. Introduction
3

4. Origin & History
Ø Presumed to have originated in
Africa
Ø Later spread to West Asia & South
Asia
Ø Believe that cultivated sesame
originated in India
4

5. Distribution
5
World Production in 2005
Source: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
STATISTICS DIVISION

6. Ø Genus sesame consist 35
recognized species
Ø S.indicum cultivated extensively
6
S.radiatum India, Africa, Sri Lanka
S.angustifolium Congo, Mozambique,
Uganda
S.occidentale Africa, Sri Lanka, India
S.calycinum Angola, Mozambique
S.bauyumii Angola

7. 7

8. Scientific Classification
8
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Angiosperm
Class Eudicots
Order Lamiales
Family Pedallaceae
Genus Sesamum
Species Sesamum indicum

9. Morphology
9

10. Root
Ø Tap root
Ø Secondary root
Ø Develop more profusely in sandy soils
Ø Drought resistant
10

11. Stem
Ø Erect
Ø Variously shaped
Ø 60 -120 cm tall
Ø Branched
11

12. Leaves
Ø Alternate & Opposite
Ø Broader Lower leaves
Ø Narrow upper leaves
Ø Entire margin
Ø leaf size 3-17 cm length
Ø 1-7 cm width
12

13. Flower
Ø Raceme inflorescence
Ø Mostly self fertilized
Ø White to violet
Ø Bell shaped
13

14. Fruit
14
Ø Capsule
Ø Normally pubescent
Ø Rectangular in section, and
typically grooved with a short,
triangular beak
Ø 2 to 8 cm length

15. Seed
Ø Small
Ø 3 to 4 mm long ,
Ø 2 mm wide
Ø 1 mm thick
Ø Ovate Shape
Ø Slightly flattened
Ø occur in many colors The most
traded variety is off-white colored
15

16. 16

17. Growth stages
17

18. Drying
Stage
•Full Maturity
•Initial dry
down
•Late dry
down
Ripening
Stage
Reproductive
Stage
•Early Bloom
•Mid Bloom
•Late Bloom
Vegetative
Phase
•Germination
Stage
•Juvenile
Stage
•Pre
reproductive
Stage
Phases and Stages
18

19. Germination stage
Ø soil temperatures need to maintain
minimum of 70ºF
Ø A rain can create a crust in the soil
over the sesame
Ø If the seed is located inside the
crust, there is almost no hope for
emergence, and the sesame
should be replanted
19

20. Cont.
ØIf the seeds are germinating
below the crust, there is a
possibility that the crust will crack
and allow for emergence
ØThe stage ends when the
seedlings emerge.
20

21. Seedling stage
Ø This stage is still too small to
cultivate.
Ø The stage ends when the 3rd pair
of true leaves are as long as the
2nd pair
21

22. Juvenile Stage
Ø There is a dramatic surge in growth
Ø At this stage, it is important to
consider cultivating and side dressing
Ø The stage ends the first green buds
are visible
22

23. Pre-reproductive
stage
Ø Most important stage to optimize
production.
Ø From this stage until late bloom, it is
important to minimize stress to the
crop.
23

24. Cont.
Ø Optimum stage to apply more
fertilizer if needed.
Ø This stage ends when 50% of the
plants have open flowers
24

25. Early bloom Stage
Ø flowers may not make capsules
Ø It is normal for the white flower
petals (corolla) to drop off the
buds in the evening
25

26. Cont.
Ø The part of the flower that makes
the capsule will remain on the
plant.
Ø This stage ends when there are 5
pairs of capsule nodes on the main
stem
26

27. Mid bloom stage
Ø Most productive stage because the
main stem and branches are putting on
capsules
Ø Plants are pulling deep moisture at this
time with roots that may match or
exceed plant height
Ø At this stage, the lower leaves that are
shaded will drop
27

28. Cont.
Ø This stage ends when the branches and
minor plants stop flowering
28

29. Late bloom stage
Ø The last irrigation.
Ø Time to compare fields to make
harvesting plans. The field that
ends the late bloom stage first will
most likely be the first to harvest,
even if it wasn’t planted first
29

30. Cont.
Ø Differences in fertility and seasonal
moisture influence the end of this
stage
Ø This stage ends when 90% of the
plants have no open white flowers
30

31. Ripening Stage
Ø Not divided into stages
Ø Starts during the reproductive
phase , first capsule is formed
Ø Most of the leaves fall off
Ø Leaves will turn yellowish green
before dropping
Ø PM is when 75% of the capsules on
the main stem have seed changed
color from milky white to cream/tan
31

32. Ø Mature seed have dark seed tip &
a line on one side
Ø After that point, the crop is less
susceptible to yield loss due to frost
32

33. Full maturity stage
Ø The plant continue yellowing
Ø lose the final leaves
Ø lose moisture
Ø Stage ends when 90% of all plants
have seeds mature
33

34. Initial dry down stage
Ø Capsule tips open just enough to
let moisture escape the capsule
and seed to dry
Ø May be some light seed loss from
the tips of the capsules; however,
the bulk of sesame’s weight is
further down in the capsule
Ø This stage ends when 10% of the
plants have a dry capsule
34

35. 35

36. Late dry down stage
Ø The late dry down stage is the final
stage.
Ø The stage ends when the seed has 6%
moisture and can be harvested.
Ø An indication that sesame has reached
6% moisture is when the plants are brittle
and capsules easily snap off
36

37. Management
Practices
37

38. Recommended
Varieties
variety Seed colour Oil content
(%)
Maturation
time(days)
MI-1 Black 45 80-90
MI-2 Black 45 80-85
MI-3 White 48-49 85-90
Uma White 50 70-75
Malee Light Brown 53 80-85
38

39. Climate Requirement
Ø Can be grown as rain fed or irrigated
crop both yala & maha season
Ø Warm, Dry climate with 500-600 mm
of rainfall
Ø Light rain in early stage
Ø Can tolerate a short period of
drought
Ø But intolerant of water logging
39

40. Soil
Ø Best on sandy loams
Ø It performs reasonably well on poor
soils if they are well drained.
Ø Very sandy & alkaline soils are not
suitable
40

41. Land Preparation
Ø Soil should be worked to fine tilth
Ø Seed germination is positively
correlated with soil tilth
Ø Weed free
Ø Well leveled for sowing
Ø Good drainage
41

42. Seed Rate
Ø Broad cast -7 kg/ha
Ø Row sown- 5 kg/ha
Ø Small seeds
Ø Mixing with sand or ash
42

43. Time of Planting
Ø Yala season :
§ Mid March - early April
Ø Maha season:
§ Sow in early November
§ Immediately after maha paddy harvest
§ To use residual moisture
• Early crop is affected by insects & diseases
• Late crop reduce yield
43

44. Planting & Spacing
Ø Spacing between rows should be
30 cm
Ø At the 3-4 leaf stage thin plants
with in the row to 15 cm
44

45. Fertilizer Use
Ø Traditionally grown under chena is
not fertilized
Ø However fertilizer use will increase
seed yield
45
Urea
(kg/ha)
TSP
(kg/ha)
MOP
(kg/ha)
Basal dressing 50 120 60
Top dressing
(4 weeks after
planting)
60

46. Weed Control
Ø First weeding should be done 2
weeks after planting
Ø Weed again 4 weeks after planting
46

47. Insect Pest/Diseases
Ø Variety of insects
Ø Not economical to use pesticides
Ø Cultural method
Ø Til leaf roller
Ø Root rot
47

48. Harvest
Ø October-November
Ø Cut steam at the base when
leaves turn yellow and first pod
turn brown
Ø Place bundles vertically with heads
together for about 1 week to dry
Ø Then place seeds on sheets & dry
48

49. 49

50. Yield
Ø Yields range from 600-1000 kg/ha
& depend on the variety &
prevailing climate
50

51. Post Harvest
Technology
51

52. Drying
Ø Reduce the level of moisture
Ø Pest infestation & microbial
deterioration are eliminated
Ø Sun drying
Traditional one
Little cost
Ø Mechanical dryers
Can use even rainy period
High cost
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53. 53

54. Cleaning & Grading
Ø Impurities higher than the seed size →
Blower or aspirator
Ø Large and small impurities→
Reciprocating or Rotary Sieves
Ø Weight differences → Specific Gravity
Separator
Ø Many types of winnowers & graders
are available according to this theory
54

55. Storage
ØBag filling
ØStore in wear house
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56. Value addition
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58. 58

59. J.A.S.S.Jayaweera
UWU/EAG/14/0013
THANK YOU!
FOR YOUR GREAT ATTENTION
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