SIMSIM PRODUCTION

Simsim plant

SIMSIM PRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION Sesame is an important oil-seed crop with

45-50% oil content. The crop is believed to be originated from

the hotter and dry part of Mediterranean region.

It is grown in Africa, Asia and parts of Latin America for its edible seeds which are source of sesame oil.

SIMSIM PRODUCTION

USES Used as a substitute for olive oil As a salad cooking oil. The oil is used in the manufacture of

margarine Poorer grades oil is used manufacture of

soap and paints, and as a lubricant and illuminant.

It is used as a vehicle for medicinal drugs and perfumes.

SIMSIM PRODUCTIONThe production of sesame has expanded due to; Increasing demand of its consumption by human being. Introduction of tolerant and resistant Good market price It offers more return for less cost (less risk) than other

crops. Versatile crops that can be grown in dry arid regions. It has unique attributes that can fit most cropping

systems. It is an easy crop to consider producing because

equipment used for other crops can be used to grow sesame.

It can also be used as animal feed.

DISTRIBUTION OF SISIM IN TANZANIA

The crop is distributed in several areas of Tanzania such as

Ruvuma, Mtwara, Morogoro, Lindi, Tanga, Dodoma.

OIL CROP RESEARCH INSTITUTES IN TANZANIA

Naliendele - Mtwara

Ilonga - Kilosa

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Family………………………...Pedaliaceae Genus…………………………Sesamum Species………………………...tridicum Botanical name……………….Sesamum tridicum Common name………………..Simsim.

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CROP

It is an annual bush crop with 0.5m to 2m in height.

It has a large tap root with a dense surface mat of feeder roots.

It has erect stem of either square, rectangular or wide flat shape.

Its stem color range from light green to almost purple but is most often dark green.

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CROP

Its seeds are small, very light and flat often

white, red, brown or black in color.

Its maturity starts at the base upward and

takes 90 to 100 days to mature after sowing.

NB; All local varieties are dehiscent, ie, their

capsules split from the top downwards

VARITIES OF SIMSIM

Morada Local varieties Naliendele 92 Ziada 94 Zawadi 94

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING GOOD SEEDS QUALITY

Genetically purity; ie true to type, resistant. Analytical purity; ie free from seed weeds,

debris, stones High germination percentage Health and viable Free from diseases Good growth and vigor High production performance

SOURCES OF GOOD SEED QUALITY OF SIMSIM IN TANZANIA

Oil crop research Institutes, eg Ilonga-Kilosa and Naliendele-Mtwara.

Seed Companies, eg TANSEED

SELECTING OF SUITABLE SEEDS FOR PLANTING

Good and normal size and color

Avoid deformed seeds,

Avoid scratched and bored(damaged) seeds

Avoid contaminated seeds

FIELD PREPARATION

Seedbed preparation

Because the seeds are so small and the rate of

growth during the early phases is so slow,

sesame seeds require a seed bed with firm,

fine crumbs and sufficient moisture, in order

to ensure their rapid, uniform germination

and subsequent growth.

………Seedbed Preparation

However a rough seedbed is preferable

despite of the small size of the seeds, this is

because the fine seedbeds are more likely to

form cap especial during the heavy rainfall

drops and thus hindering the emergency of

the seedlings.

SOWING

Time of sowing;

Simsim must be sown as early as possible

when long rain starts.

Example in Morogoro

Sow seeds between Februarys to March

when soil temperature is 20°C.

METHODS OF SOWING

Drilling

Dibbling

Broadcasting

QUIZ

Which one among of the three methods is

not suitable for local farmers and

commercial farmers? Give two reasons to

support your answer.

SPACING

Branched varieties

Row to row : 75-100cm

Plant to plant: 10-15cm (75×15)cm

Seed rate: 6.5kg/ha or 2.5kg/Acre

……SPACING

Non branched varieties

Row to row:35-45cm

Plant to plant: 8-10cm (45 × 10)cm

Seed rate: 10-12kg/ha.

Seed and sand ratio

Seeds: sand ratio.In order to have good and uniform

distribution of Seedling or plants, sands must be mixed

with Seeds.The appropriate ratio between seeds and

sands Used differ depending on the amount of

seeds to required per ha.

1.5: 0.5 or 3:1seeds and sand respectively.

THINNING This is done two weeks after emergency

when the seedlings at about 10-15cm tall. In order to achieve an optimum crop density,

remove the weak and diseased plants. Branching varieties should be thinned out to 10 cm, or definitely less than 15 cm distance between the plants and 12-13cm for non branched varieties.

 

FERTILIZATION Normal fertilizers and manures are not

used in simsim production but if are to be used 30-60 kg Nitrogen: 10-15 kg of phosphate: 10-15 kg potash.

Split the fertilizer into 50:50 or 70:30 50 or 70% during land preparation but should

be one month before sowing. 50 or 30 as sidedressing at the beginning of

the flowering stage. This is done afterbfirst weeding that is 4-

5weeks after sowing.

FERTILIZATION

NPK kg /ha .........................? UREA kg/ha ...........................? DAP kg/ha ..........................? SA kg/ha ........................?

MAJOR PESTS IN SIMSIM

Weeds Weeds are the unwanted plants found in

fields and gardens. They compete with the crops for

nutrients, moisture, and sunlight which can decrease the crop quality, higher the production costs due to increase cultivation and hand weeding, and considerably reduce the crop yields.

They also serve as the alternate hosts of insect/mite pests and diseases

Cultural Management Of Weeds.

Thorough land preparation, example: by plowing and harrowing

During the seed bed preparation, make sure that the seed bed is free of weeds.

Place the fertilizer where the crop has the access to it but the weeds do not.

This allows the crop to be more competitive with weeds.

Cultural Management Of Weeds.

Keep the surroundings of the farm free of weeds, unless they are maintained and intended as habitat for natural enemies.

N.B; Do weeding 4-5 weeks after sowing. The weeds are easier to control on their earlier growing period.

If possible, do not let the weeds to flower . Remove them from the field before they

start to flower.

Insects. Ants. Aphids Whiteflies cut worm sesame leaf roll sesame-gall-wasp Read their control measures from the notes

CROP ROTATION

Sesame is regularly planted after cotton, corn, sorghum, peanuts, alfalfa,soybeans, wheat, oats, onions, and rye without any problems.

There have been successful rotations with other vegetables.

It has been grown in the arable lang because it requires a fertile soil.

 

MATURITY INDICESThe signs of maturities include the followings: Yellowing of the stems Shed-off of its leaves Yellowing of its pods from downward – upwards 90-110 days after planting. stems tend to change from green to yellow to red in

color and the leaves will begin to fall off. Physiological maturity normally occurs 90 - 110 days after planting and normally dries down in 130 - 160 days, depending on variety and climatic condition

HAVERSITING

The harvesting starts when 75% of the fruit capsules are ripened.

The crop dries above. By using a sharp knife cut from the

ground level. Make bundles and stalked upright for

drying. One week after harvesting, thrash and winnow

the seeds. The seeds for storage must have 10 %

moisture content,