Sesame
Sesamum indicum (Syn. S.orientale)
Simsim, Benne, Benné, Benniseed, Til, Gingili, Gingelly (from Hindi jingali)
Sésame (French); Sesam (German); Sésamo, Ajonjoli (Spanish); Sésamo, Gergelim
(Portuguese); Simsim (Arabic); Til (India); Gingelly (Sri Lanka); Sillit, Simsim
(Ethiopia); Utolo (Umbundu, Angola); Kunzeleh (Pashtu)
Also used for sunflower.
Sesame has been cultivated since the earliest days of agriculture in the hot, dry parts
of Africa, from where it was taken to India, China, Burma, the Mediterranean, India,
Mexico and the Far East. These days it is grown throughout the tropics and
subtropics. There are thousands of different varieties, some of which are very
specific to a small area or soil type.
It is an annual plant, 50–250 cm tall, with a taproot and a dense surface mat of
feeding roots which improves soil structure. Seed colour may be white, yellow, grey,
red, brown or black.
It is very resistant to both heat and drought. Perhaps it is because of its rather low
yields that in global terms it is only about the ninth most important of the vegetable
oil crops. The FAO estimate of global production in 2004 was 3.3 million MT.
The main producer countries are India, China, Sudan, Mexico, Venezuela,
Burma and Ethiopia. About half of all the sesame produced is grown in Asia.
PLANTING
Propagation: by seed. Mainly self-pollinated, but some limited cross-pollination, no
more than about 5%, may occur.
Soil: sesame can often grow well on certain poor soils, but prefers deep draining
soils like sandy loams. Very intolerant of waterlogging. Fertiliser is generally not
used, though improved varieties do respond to fertiliser; a typical application is 200–
300 kg/ha of 15:15:15. It grows well on the same soil types that produce good
sorghum crops, but it is more sensitive to salinity than sorghum.
Rotation: it is a good crop to grow before wheat, or after an irrigated crop.
Intercropping: in India it is often grown mixed with cotton, maize, sorghum, millet
or groundnuts. In Africa it is often intercropped with maize or sorghum.
Seed rate: 10–15 kg/ha. 1000 seeds weigh 3–5 g.
Seed spacing: not very critical, as sesame plants compensate well - ie they tend to
grow to the size of the land area and light available. It is normally not sown in rows,
but the seed is “broadcast”. When it is sown mechanically, 40–100 cm between rows
and 10–30 cm between plants, depending on available soil water and the variety
chosen.
Depth: 2–4 cm