Where Are Sesame Producing Areas? Detailed Guide to High-Yield Cultivation Techniques
Sesame, anciently known as hu ma (flax), is one of the world's major oilseed crops today, and China's sesame production and export volume have long ranked among the highest in the world. With the regulation of national policies, farmers' enthusiasm for growing sesame is also increasing, so where are the sesame producing areas? How to cultivate for high yield?
I. Where are the sesame producing areas?
China's main sesame producing areas are Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and other regions, though in recent years sesame production has developed relatively quickly in the Northeast and Northwest.
The varieties commonly grown in these areas mainly include: Ye San, Ba Tong Bai, Ba Wang Bian, Yuzhi No. 4, Yuzhi No. 10, Yuzhi No. 11 and others; the growth period of these varieties is all around 100 days, generally less than 110 days.
II. How to cultivate sesame for high yield?
1. Selection of planting plots
Sesame does not have very high soil requirements, but saline-alkali land and marshland are not suitable for growing sesame, nor can relatively low-lying plots be used. Sesame is not suitable for continuous cropping or alternating with its own stubble; a rotation of 2 to 3 years or more is needed, and the preceding crop is best a grass-family crop.
In spring-sowing areas, after the previous crop is harvested, deep plowing should be done in time, followed immediately by leveling and breaking up clods to help preserve soil moisture; after the soil thaws in spring, plowing and harrowing should be done promptly, and before sowing a fine harrowing should be carried out once more. In summer (autumn) sowing areas, time must be seized to shallow-plow and clear the stubble in time, then fine-harrow and compact to facilitate sowing. In low-lying, rainy areas, ditches should also be opened and beds made when preparing the land.
2. Sowing time and methods
(1) Sowing time
Sowing time must be determined according to the specific conditions of each year; it is not the same every year. Sesame likes warmth and has relatively high requirements for seed germination temperature; if the temperature is below 15°C, seedlings emerge with difficulty. In Shuangliao City, sowing is mostly done in mid-to-late May.
(2) Sowing methods
The first is the dry-seed wet-emergence method. According to plot conditions, spring plots without soil moisture can use the dry-seed wet-emergence method. That is, open furrows on the ridges, then dibble the seed, cover with about 1 cm of soil, and compact after sowing.
The second is the water-planting method. According to one's own conditions and operational level, plots with good water retention can adopt the water-planting method: first open furrows on the ridges, water thoroughly, sow after the water infiltrates, and cover with 1 to 2 cm of soil.
3. Field management
(1) Fertilization
Spring-sowing land should be applied with decomposed
farmyard manure as base fertilizer during autumn plowing; for summer (autumn) sowing, the base fertilizer can be applied together with topdressing. Topdressing should apply quick-acting fertilizer around the early flowering stage.
(2) Thinning
Thinning should be done early; start thinning when seedlings are about 1.6 cm tall, and final thinning can be done when seedlings are 6 to 7 cm tall.
(3) Weeding
After the first thinning, shallow hoeing and loosening of the soil should be done to remove all weeds. When seedlings are 6 to 7 cm tall, a second intertillage and soil loosening can be carried out together with final thinning, and it can be deeper. After that, carry out 1 to 2 more times, and keep them shallow. The intertillage before flowering should be combined with topdressing and hilling up the soil.
(4) Water
Sesame fears moisture; drainage ditches should be cleared in combination with intertillage, and attention should be paid to preventing waterlogging. During the seedling stage and flowering stage, if it is too dry, irrigation can be carried out.
Warm reminder: Sesame gradually matures half a month after entering the final flowering stage; generally, when the capsules turn yellow and heavy leaf drop begins, it is the suitable harvest period. It should be harvested in time, otherwise the lower capsules will split open, affecting yield.