Cultivation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.); summary and speculation

Abstract

Sesame cultivation in Japan has declined due to the delay in mechanization of cultivation, but in recent years sesame cultivation is gaining momentum again due to the increasing demand and the development of new mechanical harvesting technology. However, most research on sesame in Japan has been done in the food processing field, and knowledge on their cultivation is scarce. In this review, the key points for stable and high-yielding sesame cultivation are discussed and speculated based on the summary of previous studies. The results indicated that avoiding waterlogging at the early-vegetative stage and high solar radiation in the mid-flowering period were important for high yield, and the development of low-temperature seeding technology would ensure a stable amount of solar radiation during this time. The dense planting around 20,000 plants/10 a was considered to be superior to the Japanese practice. It was also considered important to determine the optimum amount of fertilizer, using N: 4–8 kg/10 a, P₂O₅: 6–10 kg/10 a, and K₂O: 2–3 kg/10 a as a guide, and to apply fertilizer containing sulfur. The economic damage from weeds and pests should be assessed and prioritized for control, and the number of pesticides that can be applied should be expanded. It was also considered important to improve the growth at a low temperature, lodging resistance, waterlogging resistance and disease resistance by breeding.