EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera LAM.) AND NITROGEN RATES ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES TO GRAIN YIELD OF SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.) II

Sesame is considered second best to cocoa in terms of export volume and value in Nigeria. However, there is a drawback in the land area under its cultivation recently due to the low yield per unit area. Yield is a quantitative character that is dependent on many related characters. For effective improvement in yield a simultaneous improvement of physiological and yield attributes alongside agronomic practices is pertinent. Moringa were reported to improve crops’ yield because of its ability to improve soil fertility as well as play key roles as a plant growth hormone. Thus, field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 rainy seasons at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria to study the roles of Aqueous Extract of Moringa and Nitrogen rates as they affect some Physiological and yield attributes in Sesame. Treatments consisted of four concentrations of moringa shoots extract (0%, 3%, 4% and 5%) and three Nitrogen rates (0, 45, 90 kg N ha-1 ). These treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Foliar spray of moringa extracts on sesame started at 2 weeks after sowing and continued fortnightly until 8 weeks after sowing. Nitrogen rates were applied in two doses at land preparation and at 5 weeks after sowing. Data were collected on Plant height, Leaf area index, Crop growth rate, Leaf area ratio, Number of capsules per plant and Grain yield ha-1 . Data obtained were subjected to correlation analysis between the measured characters and yield, thereafter, path analysis was carried out. Results showed significant association between the characters and grain yield. Plant height had the highest percentage direct contribution while Number of capsules per plant had the lowest contribution. Indirect/combined contribution of Crop growth rate with leaf area ratio was highest while leaf area ratio with number of capsules per plant was lowest and negative. Based on the results, it was concluded that moringa can compliment Nitrogen fertilizer in improving sesame growth and yield. Therefore, 90 kg N ha-1 with 3 % moringa extract are recommended for improved grain yield of sesame per unit area.