Effect of Irrigation Frequency on Growth, Yield and Nutritional Quality of Sesamum indicum in a Semi-Arid Region in Morocco

Laila El Hanafi; Chaimae Rais; Chaimae Slimani; Houria Nekhla; Saadia Rais; Hassane Greche

doi:10.2478/ahr-2026-0005

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Effect of Irrigation Frequency on Growth, Yield and Nutritional Quality of Sesamum indicum in a Semi-Arid Region in Morocco

Acta Horticulturae et Regiotecturae

Volume 29 (2026): Issue 1 (May 2026)

By: Laila El Hanafi, Chaimae Rais, Chaimae Slimani, Houria Nekhla, Saadia Rais and Hassane Greche

Open Access

|May 2026

Abstract

Commonly referred to as the “Queen of Oilseeds”, Sesamum indicum is widely recognized for its nutritional value and health-promoting properties. Currently, water stress is one of the main factors limiting sesame production, particularly in regions experiencing prolonged drought periods, such as semi-arid areas of Morocco. One effective approach to mitigate this constraint is the rational use of irrigation water; therefore, it is necessary to understand plant responses to different irrigation regimes. The objective of this study was to establish an appropriate irrigation schedule to optimize the agronomic performance of sesame under semi-arid conditions. A field experiment was conducted at the National Agency of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Taounate using a randomized complete block design with irrigation intervals. Growth parameters (plant height, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, capsule length, and 1000-seed weight), yield parameters (seed yield, biological yield, and harvest index), and biochemical traits (oil and protein contents) were evaluated. Analysis of variance revealed that irrigation intervals significantly affected all measured parameters. Irrigation conducted every 3 days resulted in the highest plant height (84.08 cm), number of capsules (38.05), number of seeds per capsule (49.6), capsule length (30.2 mm), and 1000-seed weight (3 g), followed by irrigation intervals of 6, 9, and 15 days. The maximum seed yield (1,222.66 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (4,241.33 kg ha⁻¹), and harvest index (31.89%) were obtained from plants irrigated every 6 days. Biochemically, the highest oil content (49.83%) was recorded in plants irrigated every 6 days, followed by those irrigated every 3, 9, and 15 days. In contrast, the highest protein content (22.63%) was observed under the 15-day irrigation interval. A negative correlation was found between total seed oil and total protein contents.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahr-2026-0005 | Journal eISSN: 1338-5259 | Journal ISSN: 1335-2563

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Language: English

Page range: 40 - 46

Submitted on: Feb 9, 2026

Accepted on: Mar 17, 2026

Published on: May 18, 2026

Published by: Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

Sesamum indicum,

irrigation,

plant growth,

yield,

protein,

oil

Related subjects:

Industrial chemistry,

Green and sustainable technology

© 2026 Laila El Hanafi, Chaimae Rais, Chaimae Slimani, Houria Nekhla, Saadia Rais, Hassane Greche, published by Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 29 (2026): Issue 1 (May 2026)