How to grow summer sesame? A detailed guide to comprehensive high-quality pollution-free cultivation techniques

Sesame is a major oil crop in Linquan County and a leading industry among cash crops, renowned both at home and abroad for its large area, high yield and excellent quality. The "Shenghe" brand sesame oil, "Longmao" brand refined sesame and "Yingxian" brand washed sesame produced by several leading sesame processing enterprises such as "Baoding Grain and Oil Co., Ltd." in the county have obtained China Green Food Grade A standard certification and pollution-free agricultural product certification. In order to improve sesame quality and meet the production requirements of pollution-free agricultural products, on the basis of promoting the results of the "six reform measures for sesame" researched in the county, after years of comprehensive experimental demonstration, a set of "cultivation techniques for pollution-free high-quality summer sesame yielding 1125-1500 kg/hectare" has been developed. This technique won the county science and technology progress award and has been promoted and applied over a large area.

1 Controlling pollution

In accordance with the national standards for the environmental quality of pollution-free agricultural product production areas, pollution-free technical control measures are implemented.

2 Selecting good varieties

Select single-stem varieties with good quality, high yield, strong stress resistance, pure white seeds, high oil content and good marketability. Such as Yuzhi No. 10, Yuzhi No. 11, etc.

3 Reasonable crop rotation

Sesame should not be planted continuously; sesame Fusarium wilt and stem spot blight are infected through the soil. Continuous cropping of sesame worsens the diseases, reducing yield in mild cases and resulting in total crop failure in severe cases. Therefore, sesame rotation should preferably have a 3-4 year interval, and it can be rotated with sweet potato, corn, soybean, etc.

4 Deep furrows and high beds

The rainfall in the Huaibei Plain from June to August is relatively high compared with the whole year, and its distribution in time and space is uneven, so waterlogging disasters pose a great threat to sesame production. For plots with poor drainage and low-lying terrain, ditches and beds should be matched; generally the bed width is 2-2.5 m, the ditch width is 0.3-0.4 m, and the ditch depth is 0.2 m, so that no water accumulates on the bed surface after the rain stops.

5 Scientific fertilization

Although sesame is tolerant of drought and poor soil, reasonable management of fertilizer and water can greatly increase yield. If drought occurs at the flower bud stage, carry out one sprinkler irrigation combined with topdressing. The principle of topdressing is light application at the seedling stage and heavy application at the flower bud stage. Generally, for fields with a yield of 1125-1500 kg/hectare, apply 75-105 kg/hectare of pure nitrogen, 45-90 kg/hectare of phosphorus pentoxide, 75-120 kg/hectare of potassium oxide, 15 kg/hectare of zinc sulfate and 7.5 kg/hectare of boron fertilizer before sowing. When 80% of the plants in the whole field are flowering, topdress with 75-120 kg/hectare of urea. Spraying a mixed solution of 0.2% boron fertilizer and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate at the flowering stage can increase grain weight.

6 Reasonable close planting

The planting density of sesame should be determined according to the level of soil fertility, the characteristics of the variety and the earliness or lateness of sowing. The varieties currently promoted are mainly single-stem types, and sesame basically has no branches. Generally, for plots with high soil fertility, those sown in mid-to-late May should retain 120,000-135,000 plants/hectare, and those sown in early-to-mid June should retain 150,000-165,000 plants/hectare; for plots with medium soil fertility, those sown in mid-to-late May should retain 135,000-150,000 plants/hectare, and those sown in early-to-mid June should retain 165,000-180,000 plants/hectare.

7 Fine sowing and careful management

7.1 Early sowing at the proper time For summer sesame, from mid-May to early June, early sowing gives high yield. The sowing rate is 6-7.5 kg/hectare.

7.2 Chemical regulation Before sowing, soak the seeds in 100 mg/kg chlormequat for 1-2 h, wash them clean and dry them slightly, then mix every 10 kg of seeds with 50 g of 50% carbendazim powder, to promote thickening of the roots and stems, improve lodging resistance and at the same time prevent diseases.

7.3 Timely thinning and final thinning Thin the seedlings at the two-pair true leaf stage and finalize the seedlings at the 3-4 pair true leaf stage.

7.4 Timely intertillage and weeding Grasp the principle of not intertilling before rain. For chemical weeding, after sowing and before weeds emerge, use 1.5 kg/hectare of 50% acetochlor emulsifiable concentrate, mixed with 750 kg/hectare of water, and evenly sprinkle it on the soil surface for sealing; alternatively, at the seedling stage, use 750-900 ml/hectare of 10.8% haloxyfop-R-methyl, mixed with 750-900 kg/hectare of water, for spraying, which gives a good control effect.

7.5 Comprehensive disease and pest control With agricultural control as the basis, biological control as the main method and chemical control as the supplement. Such as rotation, clearing the garden, disease- and pest-resistant varieties, etc. Spray 600-fold 50% carbendazim solution once each at the seedling stage and flowering stage.

7.6 Timely topping Top at the final flowering stage of sesame (generally late July to early August) to promote early maturity and increase grain weight; removing leaves is strictly prohibited. Immediately after topping, spray once a mixed solution of 600-fold 50% carbendazim and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate, to increase disease resistance and photosynthetic efficiency in the late stage of sesame, delay leaf senescence and increase the 1000-grain weight.

8 Timely harvest

Harvest when the sesame plants turn yellow and ripe; harvesting should be done in the morning or evening to reduce seed loss. Adopt the method of tying into small bundles and drying on racks, with 15-20 plants per small bundle being appropriate, to prevent the seeds from becoming moldy and the seed color from darkening, which would affect the marketability of the sesame.