A. Bakhshandeh - Shahid Chamran University, Ramin Research and Education Center, Department of Agronomy, Ahwaz, Islamic Republic of Iran.

There are varying patterns for growing different varieties of branched or non-branched sesame. This experiment was conducted during a two-year period (۲۰۰۰-۲۰۰۱) to identify the optimal practice for cultivation of the uni-branched sesame in the Safi-Abad Agricultural Research Center, Khuzestan Province. The statistical design was set up as strip-plot in a randomized complete block with four replications. Rows were adopted at varying spaces of ۳۷.۵, ۵۰ and ۶۰ cm while the plants were arranged horizontally at ۵,۱۰,۱۵ and ۲۰ cm. In this way, the density of the plot was surveyed over an area ranging from ۸۳۰۰۰ to ۵۳۰,۰۰۰ plant/ha. Combined analysis of two years, results showed a significant effect on the yield component due to an increase in row-spacing from ۳۷.۵ to ۶۰ cm. This increase in row-spacing from ۳۷.۵ to ۶۰ cm. could also increase the stem diameter from ۱۶.۳ to ۱۹.۴ mm, the pod number from ۵۹ to ۸۴ per plant, as well as the weight per thousand seeds from ۳ to ۳.۳ grams. Moreover, an increase in plant spacing from ۵ to ۲۰ cm caused a decrease in stem height from ۱۸۰.۲ to ۱۶۹.۷ cm, an increase in stem diameter form ۱۵.۸ to ۱۹.۸ mm, a rise in pod number from ۴۴.۶ to ۹۶.۵ and in the seed content from ۵۹.۳ to ۷۴.۴ per pod. The relevance of the seed yield and row spacing obeyed a falling linear regession curve, while the seed yield and plant intervals showed a non-linear behaviour and estimated a maximum yield at ۱۰ cm distance. Finally, the planting density reflected a non-linear fourth power equation. The maxinum seed and oil yield was then estimated at a density of ۲۰۰,۰۰۰–۲۵۰,۰۰۰ plant per hectare. In view of higher yield at the ۳۷.۵ cm row treatment and the ۱۰ cm plant treatment, together with regressive equations, the above pattern (۳۷.۵۱۰cm) shall be recommended for uni-branched sesame growing in Khuzestan.

Plant density, Row spacing, Sesame, Yield component