Date of Award:

5-1977

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Plants, Soils, and Climate

Department name when degree awarded

Soil Science and Biometeorology

Committee Chair(s)

Gaylen L. Ashcroft

Committee

Gaylen L. Ashcroft

Committee

R. John Hanks

Committee

Cyrus McKell

Abstract

In Venezuela rainfall-induced crust is the main problem in obtaining adequate stands of sesame (Sesamwn indicum L.) The effectiveness of seven commercially available soil conditioners to prevent soil crusting and their influence on sesame seedling emergence was tested on Parlo silt loam. The chemicals were sprayed on the soil surface at different rates and dilutions . The rates were established to give about the same treatment cost.

Two chemicals: a polyvinyl alcohol (Elvanol 71-30) and an anionic asphalt emulsion (Humofina B-2864) gave the greatest increase in sesame seedling emergence. Thereafter, the two chemicals were tested on two Utah soils (Parlo silt loam and Nibley silty clay loam) and four Venezuelan soils. Three of the Venezuelan soils (Turen silt loam, Nontilled Turen silt loam, and Agua Blanca silty clay loam) were sampled in areas actually being used for sesame production, but with problems of soil crusting. The fourth Venezuelan soil (Guanipa sand) was collected in an area where sesame has recently been introduced.

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