Sesame matures between 3-4 months. There are two problem associated with harvesting
sesame:-
a)
That
capsules mature differently from the bottom of the plant upwards so that the
capsules at the base of plant mature before those of the tip
b)
After
maturity the capsule split open to release the seed, and if harvesting is
delayed a lot of seed is lost.
For these two
reasons harvesting at the optimum maturity is essential. In most cultivars
maturity is associated with
i.
Leaf
senescence[leafs becomes old] and rapid shading
ii.
The
stem and branches turns from
- green
to yellowish-brown (for green-stemmed cultivars]
- purple
to dark purple to almost black (for purple stemmed cultivars]
iii.
The
leaves have turned yellow
Sesame is
generally harvested by hand, and then left to dry for the first 2-3 days after
cutting in a windrow. The leaves dry out quickly there, making it easier to
bundle them into sheaves. The sheaves should be positioned so that the sun can
shine down directly onto the capsules. The sheaves should be small (diameter of
15 cm, bottom: 45-80 cm). During harvesting, the planting seeds should not be
allowed to come into contact with the ground to avoid an infestation of soil
borne diseases. The seed shells must remain intact to protect the seeds from
infection, and to maintain their ability to germinate.
When the sheaves have dried out fully, they are tipped out onto sturdy cloths or canvases and threshed with sticks. To achieve maximum quality (and market price) the threshing cloths/canvases should be at least 2mx3m to avoid contamination with soil particles. Directly following the threshing, the sesame seeds are sieved of leaves, stems and capsule residues, and then dried out to a moisture content of 6% as rapidly as possible. This can be done on a clean, sun-drenched concrete base preferably covered by a clean plastic sheet to avoid contamination.
When the sheaves have dried out fully, they are tipped out onto sturdy cloths or canvases and threshed with sticks. To achieve maximum quality (and market price) the threshing cloths/canvases should be at least 2mx3m to avoid contamination with soil particles. Directly following the threshing, the sesame seeds are sieved of leaves, stems and capsule residues, and then dried out to a moisture content of 6% as rapidly as possible. This can be done on a clean, sun-drenched concrete base preferably covered by a clean plastic sheet to avoid contamination.
Yields
With good
management, Improved varieties have potential seed yield should be at least
1,000 kg/ha and a seed oil content of about 58% on moisture-free basis.
STORAGE:
Sesame
intended for seed should be cleaned thoroughly to remove debris and poorly
filled seeds, and treated with dual seed dressing insecticide/fungicide.
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