Abstract

The influence of organic manures in nutrient uptake and seed quality of sesame is not fully known. In this context, a study was conducted in northeastern Uganda in 2013 and 2014 short rains, and 2014 long rains to investigate the effect of organic manures on nutrient uptake and seed quality of sesame. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments comprised: control, 4 crop residues, 2 animal manures and combinations of 2 animal manures and 4 crop residues all applied at two rates of 3 and 6 t/ha. Poultry manure plus finger millet husks (6 t/ha) produced significantly the highest seed protein content (48.23%) and uptake of N (4.84%), P (0.66%) and K (1.86%) by sesame at 4 weeks after emergence. Poultry manure plus cowpea husks (6 t/ha) and poultry manure plus groundnut shells (3 t/ha) produced the highest total ash (8.71%) and sesame seed oil content (67.95%), respectively. The crop residue effect on seed crude protein content, seed total ash and seed oil content occurred in the order of finger millet > cowpea > groundnut > sorghum, finger millet > cowpea > sorghum > groundnut and groundnut > sorghum > cowpea > finger millet, respectively. This study has demonstrated that finger millet husks and groundnut shells effectively enhance protein and oil content of sesame than other crop residues, respectively. Poultry manure plus finger millet husks (3 t/ha) enhances sesame seed protein content than other treatments.

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