Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum. L) is one of the main sources of livelihoods in northern Uganda. However, its production is constrained by low soil fertility and moisture levels. A study was conducted at Serere, Uganda in 2013 and 2014 to investigate the effect of organo-mineral fertilizers on growth, seed yield and nutritional quality of sesame. The design of the experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments comprised: control (no soil amendment), mixtures of 4 crop residues each at (3 and 6 t/ha) and two rates of N, P and K. Finger millet husks (3 t/ha) plus lower fertilizer rate (30 kg N-25 kg P-40 Kg K/ha) had significantly higher seed yield of sesame; while finger millet husks (6 t/ha) plus higher fertilizer rate (60 kg N-50 kg P-80 Kg K/ha) significantly increased vegetative growth of sesame. Finger millet husks (6 t/ha) plus lower fertilizer rate had significantly higher seed crude protein content of sesame; while cowpea husks (3 t/ha) plus higher fertilizer rate and groundnut shells (3 t/ha) plus lower fertilizer rate produced significantly higher seed total ash and seed oil content of sesame, respectively. This study has demonstrated that application of a mixture of crop residues and inorganic fertilizers is the best treatment in enhancing growth, seed yield and nutritional seed quality of sesame.

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