Plants

sesame

Sesamum indicum L.

Family: Pedaliaceae · Genus: Sesamum

benne

Placenta I High No biomass production

sesame — Franz Xaver · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Indo-African annual oilseed. EcoAgri lists it in the high stratum of the 'up to 6 months' bin. Tolerates sandy soils and drought well; seeds are highly nutritious. A good option for Caatinga and Cerrado.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: High
Strata: High, Medium
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Low
Drought tolerance: High
Soil pH range: 5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Sandy, Loamy, Clayey

Morphology

Mature height: 1–2 m
Root system: Taproot
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 1 year
Time to first harvest: 4 months

Biomes & climate

Caatinga Suitable
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Hot semi-arid (BSh) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Sesame takes the High stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

Warm-season annual; prefers well-drained soils of pH 5.5–7.5 (tolerates 4.5–8) and is notably drought-tolerant, cropping on as little as 300–500 mm of rain. Needs a minimum ~5-month cycle and warmth (20–30 °C ideal); matures in 40–180 days depending on cultivar. Direct-sown in spring.