Which month is the best for sowing sesame?

Sesame, as an important oil crop , has strict requirements on temperature. It is a thermophilic plant, and the germination and emergence of seeds requires a relatively stable warm environment. The germination of sesame seeds will be inhibited when the temperature is below 15℃, which is not conducive to their normal emergence. Let’s learn below: Which month is the best for sowing sesame seeds?

Which month is the best for sowing sesame?

Sesame planting is usually divided into three types according to the season: spring sowing, summer sowing and autumn sowing, and the sowing period lasts about fifty to sixty days. However, due to differences in climatic conditions in different regions, the specific time of sowing will also vary accordingly. For example, in areas such as Jiangxi and Anhui, the sowing time of spring sesame is usually scheduled in early May, while autumn sesame is recommended to be completed before late July. Since the temperature and precipitation conditions in June are relatively suitable, this month is considered the best sowing period for summer sesame.

In terms of sesame planting patterns, it is mainly small- scale planting by family farmers, and large-scale planting such as dozens of acres is relatively rare. This is mainly because the planting and harvesting process of sesame relies heavily on manual operation, and compared with other crops, the economic benefits of sesame are not particularly outstanding. These factors limit the development of large-scale cultivation.

Key points for sesame planting

1. Variety selection

When growing sesame, give priority to varieties that are more disease-resistant. Before sowing, the seeds should be dried and screened to improve their quality. The risk of sesame seedling and soil-borne diseases can be reduced by soaking the seeds in warm water (50℃ to 55℃) for 10 to 15 minutes, or by treating the seeds with 0.1% to 0.3% of carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl.

2. Application of base fertilizer

The application of basal fertilizer should be mainly organic fertilizer , combined with appropriate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and supplemented with medium and trace elements such as boron and zinc. It is recommended to apply 1,000 to 1,500 kilograms of farmyard manure and 20 to 30 kilograms of compound fertilizer per mu of land.

Pay attention to soil moisture when sowing to avoid excessive drought. You can choose to sow after rain. In arid areas, sowing should be carried out after making soil or digging furrows and watering, and the sowing depth should be controlled at 1 to 2 cm. With the advancement of agricultural mechanization, sesame planting can adopt mechanized sowing, such as integrated tillage and fertilization mechanized spreading and row sowing technology, which is suitable for farmers who plant on a large scale and saves time and labor. For small-scale planting, no-till or shallow-till seeding can be used.

3. Weed control

There are limited types of herbicides suitable for sesame fields. In order to reduce the occurrence of post-emergence weeds, it is recommended to treat the soil before sowing or before germination. 3 to 5 days before sowing, you can use 48% fluazifop emulsifiable concentrate for spraying and cover the soil with 3 to 5 cm after application; 1 to 2 days after sowing, you can choose to use Duer, Jindul (50 to 65 ml per mu), pendimethalin (100 to 150 ml of 33% pendimethalin per mu) and other treatments to ensure that the soil is covered and the seeds are effectively controlled.

Post-emergence stem and leaf treatment is easier for grass weeds, but there is currently a lack of efficient and safe herbicides for broad-leaved weeds. After sesame seedlings emerge (from the 5-leaf stage to before row closing), when the weeds are in the 2-3 leaf stage, 35 to 50 ml of 10% quizalofop-p-ethyl emulsifiable concentrate, 20 to 40 ml of 240 g/L clethodim emulsifiable concentrate, or cypermethrin, high-efficiency grass cover, etc. can be used for spraying per mu. For small-scale plantings or fields with a lot of broadleaf weeds, manual weeding is a viable method.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time of sesame. The planting time of sesame should be considered according to the soil temperature and environment. Don’t proceed blindly.