• Sesame can be cultivated well in Dry and Intermediate zones of Sri Lanka.
• The optimal temperature for sesame cultivation is 25 – 30 ⁰C.
• Light rains in the early stages of growth are important however heavy rains adversely affects the plant growth.
• Light showers during germination, flowering and pod bearing stages are favorable.

Well fertile, well drained, lightly textured sandy loam soil is preferred. Poorly drained or saline soils are not suitable for sesame cultivation. Well drained highlands are more appropriate.

Sesame is mainly grown as a mono crop. However, sesame can also be grown as an intercrop with perennial crops such as coconut and mango. The most important factor here is receiving enough sunlight for the crop.

Land preparation with rains will improve water efficiency. Weeds and other uninfected crop debris should be incorporated to the soil by ploughing using a disk plough. Then fine tilth the soil using a harrower or rotovator and break large soil particles.

Properly prepare drainage lines to drain out excess water in the field and to avoid accumulation of water on the soil surface. Seed establishment in raised beds or ridges are suitable to facilitate drainage. However, if sesame cultivation in the previous season was infected, it is not advisable to grow sesame again in the same land.

Seed Requirement

• If broadcasting – 7 kg/ha
• If row seeding – 5 kg/ha

Spacing

• If row seeding
• 30 cm between rows and 15 cm between the plants

Place 2-3 seeds per hill and thin-out excess plants after 2 weeks of planting and keep one plant per hill.

Seeds can be planted with the onset of rains in mid-March -early April for Yala season and in mid-September -October for Maha season.

The critical time for weed control in sesame is until about 1 month of the crop. Weeding during the thin-out stage (in 2 weeks) and about 4 weeks after sowing manually or using equipment is preferred. Weed management is easy when row seeding is practiced.

It is very important to have enough moisture in the soil until the seeds germinate. If there is not enough moisture in the soil, supply water at 4 days interval during first 3 weeks of planting and then water at least 10-12 days interval until seeds mature.

Organic fertilizers are very important to fertilize the soil. Apply well decomposed compost at the rate of 6.5 t/ha or cattle manure at the rate of 3.5 t/ha at the land preparation or two days before seed establishment and mix with the soil. Soil testing should be done every 3-4 seasons to identify soil nutrient status and other soil problems.

• Stem and root rot disease

The disease is caused by a fungus called Macrophomina phaseolina.

Symptoms

The basal region of the plant becomes brownish and leaves become yellowish and dry. In severe condition whole plant gets dry and ultimately die.

Management

At land preparation, deep plough the soil and expose to the sun for 7-10 days.

Improve drainage in the field.

Avoid drainage from infected fields to healthy fields.

Remove infected plants from the field.

If the infection is high, practice crop rotation with maize or a legume.

• Phyllody

The disease is caused by phytoplasma and transmitted by plant hoppers.

Symptoms

This is the abnormal development of floral parts into leafy structures.

The petioles of the affected plant part are shorter and becomes partially or entirely sterile as it is unable to produce flowers.

Management

Remove the infected plant parts

Maintain a clean field without host weeds nearby.

Crop rotation

• Leaf and pod webber (Antigastra catalaunalis)

The larvae initially feed on young leaves and shoots and during later stage, they roll the leaves and feed inside. Further the larvae feed on flowers, pods and seeds.

Control

Remove the affected plant parts.

Plant at the correct time.

Harvesting time can be identified when the lower leaves get yellowish and lower pods become brownish and ready to split. However, the pods in the upper part of the plant may be still green at this time. When harvesting the whole plant should be cut at the base and place the bundles upright in shade for about 7 days. Leaves are drop off and pods get matured during this period.

Use tarpaulin sheets to place seeds from the plants to avoid the contaminations. The seeds can be sun dried until 8% of moisture and store the seeds in polysack bags and keep in a dry and pest proof conditions.