A field study was conducted to evaluate the performance of two sesame varieties in
response to nitrogen fertilizer level and intra row spacing at the Research Farm of Institue
for Agricultural Research Samaru in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria, during the wet
seasons of 2009 and 2010. The treatments consisting of four nitrogen levels (20, 40, 60 and
80kgN/ha), three intra row spacing (5,10 and 15cm) and two varieties (NCRIBen001M and
NCRIBen002M), were arranged in a split plot design with three replications. The factorial
combinations of nitrogen level and variety were assigned to the main plot, while intra row
spacing was placed at the sub plot. A comparison of interactive effects of nitogen level and
intra row spacing produced highest values for number of leaves, number of primary
branches, shoot dry matter, capsule yield and grain yield per plant at 80 KgN/ha and 15cm
intra row spacing, while the least values were obtained at 20kgN/ha and 5cm intra row
spacing. leaf area index, crop growth rate and grain yield per hectare recorded highest
values at 80kgN/ha and 5cm and the least values at 20kgN/ha and 15cm. The intractions of
variety and intra row spacing showed a decreased leaf area index, crop growth rate and
grain yield per hectare of both varieties with increased intra row spacing. However,
NCRIBen001M significantly produced higher values for these characters at 5cm intra row
spacing than NCRIBen002M. The study concluded that application of 80kgN/ha at 5cm intra
row spacing produced the highest grain yield of both varieties, however NCRIBen001M
significantly out yield NCRIBen002M under the same conditions.