Abstract
Plant population and arrangement should be properly designed to maximize the seed yield of short-height genotypes of castor ( Ricinus communis L.) in each cropping season. Experiments were performed in the in the fall-winter cropping season of 2008 and 2009 in Botucatu, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of row spacing (0.45, 0.60, 0.75, and 0.90 m) and plant population (25,000, 40,000, 55,000, and 70,000 plants ha -1 ) on agronomical traits, yield components, seed yield, and oil yield of the genotype FCA-PB. A high plant density caused a reduction in plant survival and increased the first raceme insertion height, particularly in the year with the higher rainfall. The basal stem diameter, number of racemes per plant, and seeds per raceme were reduced by increasing the plant density. However, the seed and oil yields were minimally influenced by plant population density and row spacing because the castor plant compensated for a low plant population with a high number of racemes and seeds. The maximum seed yield was achieved with an estimated 0.64 m of row spacing and 50,107 plants ha -1 (i.e., 3.2 plants m -1 ).
Highlights
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) oil is distinct from other vegetable oils, mainly because it consists of up to 90% of a hydroxylated fatty acid called ricinoleic acid (SEVERINO et al, 2012), and it has many applications in the chemical industry (BARNES et al, 2009), including biodiesel production (BALDWIN; COSSAR, 2009).The castor plant is tolerant to drought and adapted to many cropping conditions (BABITA et al, 2010; CARVALHO et al, 2010; ZHOU et al, 2010)
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of row spacing and plant population arrangement on agronomical traits, yield components, seed yield, and oil yield of the short-height castor genotype FCA
The row spacing, plant population, and their interaction were significant to the plant survival rate
Summary
Castor (Ricinus communis L.) oil is distinct from other vegetable oils, mainly because it consists of up to 90% of a hydroxylated fatty acid called ricinoleic acid (SEVERINO et al, 2012), and it has many applications in the chemical industry (BARNES et al, 2009), including biodiesel production (BALDWIN; COSSAR, 2009). The castor plant is tolerant to drought and adapted to many cropping conditions (BABITA et al, 2010; CARVALHO et al, 2010; ZHOU et al, 2010). Castor is an attractive option for growth as a second crop (outof-season harvest) in the fall-winter cropping season, in succession to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. In fall-winter, traditional crops, such as corn (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), are not grown because rain is scarce and erratic (SAVY FILHO, 2005; SILVA et al, 2010)
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