Effect of Planting Arrangement and Plant Density on Seed Yield of Shattering Tolerant Sesame (Sesamum indicum, L.) Genotype in Karaj and Mashhad in Iran

Since there is no information available regarding crop management, including proper planting arrangement and optimal planting density, of the imported shattering tolerant sesame genotypes, field experiments were carried out in research fields of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, and Khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Mashhad, Iran, in 2019 and 2020. The effect of experimental factors including; 30, 45 and 60 cm inter row spacing, and 5, 8, 11 and 14 cm intra row spacing were evaluated as split blocks (strips) arrangements in randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that there was reduction in number of sub-branches in both locations due to reduction in inter row spacing and intra row spacing. On the other hand, the reduction in plant density m-2 increased the number of capsules plant-1 and seed number capsule-1. The highest seed yield (1342 and 604 kg ha-1 in Karaj and Mashhad, respectively) obtained from the 45 × 8 and 45 × 11 planting arrangement in Karaj and Mashhad, respectively. Generally, the results indicated that there is an optimal planting arrangement and planting density for each location. Therefore, due to increased competition between plants in high plant density and lack of proper utilization of resources in low plant density, it would not be possible to attain the highest yield potential of shattering tolerant sesame genotype in high and low plant density.