In Burkina Faso, 85% of soils are leached tropical ferruginous soils with concretions, poor in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This soil poverty significantly reduces crop productivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic and mineral fertilizer combinations on the growth and productivity performance of sesame varieties (S-42 and Humera). The study was carried out in the field at Ipelcé, 45 km south of the capital Ouagadougou. The experimental set-up was a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The variety factor (S-42 and Humera) and the soil fertilization factor (F0: 0 fertilizer, control); F1: cattle manure compost (7.5 t/ha ); F2: mulched hen droppings (1.5 t/ha); F3: cattle manure compost (2.5 t/ha) + mulched hen droppings (1 t/ha); F4: cattle manure compost (5 t/ha) + NPK (50 kg/ha) + Urea (25 kg/ha); F5:
Mulched hen droppings (0.75 t/ha) + NPK (50 kg/ha) + Urea (25 kg/ha); F6: Cattle manure compost (1.25 t/ha) + mulched hen droppings (0.5 t/ha) + NPK (50 kg/ha) + Urea (25 kg/ha); F7: NPK (100 kg/ha) + Urea (50 kg.ha- 1) were studied. The results showed that the F5 and F6 combinations significantly improved the growth and development of the two sesame varieties (S-42 and Humera), but even more so in Humera. The Humera variety had the highest above-ground dry biomass (61.54g) under F6 and the highest root dry biomass (14.90g) under F5. The S-42×F6 interaction produced the highest number of capsules (101.33 capsules/plant). The Humera×F6 combination produced more seeds (71.42 seeds/capsule). For 1000-seed weight, the Humera variety with fertilization F5 and F6 recorded the highest weight (3.22 g). For seed yield, the Humera×F5 combination (20.03 g/plant or 3324.59 kg/ha) recorded the highest values. Thus, the F5 and F6 combinations were the best fertilizers for the growth, development and production of both varieties (S-42 and Humera), but even more so for the Humera variety. The F5 and F6 combinations and the Humera variety are therefore recommended

Sesame, Variety, Fertilization, Yield, Burkina Faso