Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the chief foreign exchange earning oil crops in Ethiopia. However, its productivity remains low due to lack of appropriate agronomic practices. The aim of this research was to study the effect of organic mulches on sesame productivity and in situ moisture conservation. This experiment was carried out in Humera Agricultural Research Center, Western Tigray, during 2015 growing season. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. There were four types of organic mulches; rice straw, sorghum straw, sesame straw, and Sudan grass were compared with control. Sesame, variety Setit-1 was used in the experiment. The organic mulching rate of application was 10 ton ha⁻¹and this was applied evenly to the soil immediately after germination. Soil water content, phonological characteristics yield, and yield components of sesame were collected. The analyzed results indicated that organic mulching had significant effect on soil moisture content at 0–0.2 m, 0.21–0.4 m, and 0.41–0.6 m in every two-week interval after sowing and grain yield of sesame. Sesame straw conserved highest soil moisture content as compared with respective mulch material. The highest yield (664 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded with Sudan grass while the lowest grain yield (190 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded with no mulch.

Crop wild relatives are species can contribute valuable traits. The study characterized the morphological characteristics of wild sesame plants in their niche during 2018/19. Morphological characterization of 27 wild sesame executed. Data analysis was executed using R and Python programming languages. Seeds per locule, plant height, length of capsule bearing zone, height to the first capsule, leaf length showed non-significant (P < 0.05) differences while all the remaining traits showed significant (P < 0.05) differences. Number of branches, capsules and seeds per capsule ranged from 4–17, 150–640 and 80–136 respectively. The lowest number of capsules per plant (304) and lowest number of seeds per capsule (102) were observed in Mierab Armacho and Tegede while the highest number of capsules per plant (433) and highest number of seeds per capsule (128) were observed from Tahtay Adyabo. A strong positive correlation was observed between seeds per locule and seeds per capsule; capsule per plant and stem width; plant height and length of capsule bearing zone. The wild plants from hillsides outnumber the plants from crop farmlands and roadsides in branches per plant, capsule per plant, and seeds per capsule. The ideal habitat for wild sesame is the hillsides. The wild sesame plants outperform the Sesamum indicum under experimentations. Hence, these wild plants can be crucial sources to enhance the genetic base of Sesamum indicum.

Sesame is the second in oil crop produced in Ethiopia next to Niger seed and it is also second foreign currency generator in the country. Weeds are the most significant problem in sesame producing areas. This research was conducted with the aim of reducing weed infestation and boost yield. The experiment was conducted in 2016 cropping season at Humera Agricultural Research Center in RCBD design. Growth performance, yield and yield components of sesame and weed data were collected. Less abundant and dense Rahynochosia malacophylla weeds (33) and (132/m²) were recorded at Sudan grass, where the most abundant and dense Rahynochosia malacophylla weeds (60.5) and (242/m²) were recorded from no-mulch plot. The highest sesame yield (695 kg ha^-1) was recorded from Sudan grass treatment, while the lowest yield (225 kg ha^-1) was recorded from no mulch. Farmers need to apply grass mulch to suppress weed growth and boost sesame yield.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is probably the most ancient oilseed. It has multiple uses; it is used as a source of food and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The average yield of sesame in western Tigray is too low (about 400 kg/ha to 500 kg/ha) due to different factors, and weed infestation takes a lion’s share. More than 80 weed species were recorded and identified as weed pests for sesame in western Tigray. “Maimaio” Commelina foecunda is the most troublesome weed of sesame. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of C. foecunda and quantify its infestations. The survey was conducted in 24 sesame growing areas and 48 sesame farms from the three districts of western Tigray in the 2017 production season. The survey result showed that about 91.7% of the assessed sesame farms in western Tigray were found infested with C. foecunda. The weed frequently appeared in Kafta Humera. And, it occurred abundantly and closely in Kafta Humera, whereas it occurred poorly and irresolutely in Tsegede. Concentrated frequency, abundance, and density of the weed were recorded by large-scale sesame producers, lower growing altitudes, and early growth stage of sesame; whereas, it was limited in the small-scale farms, higher growing altitudes, and late growth stage of sesame.