New oil and forage producing plant species evaluated on phosphorus doses and row spacing

Abstract

Nicandra physaloides is a non-domesticated plant species, a potential oil and forage supplier. Its adaptation to the agricultural production system needs to be investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of N. physaloides to eight treatments resulting from the factorial combination of two spacings (0.25 and 0.50 m) and four phosphate fertilizers (0, 40, 80, 160 kg ha−1 of P2O5). Row spacing did not influence grain yield, oil content, or plant growth. Grain yield is influenced by phosphate fertilization, increasing at the rate of 1.33 kg of grains for each kilogram of P2O5 supplied, with a maximum yield of 581 kg ha−1 in the fertilization of 160 kg ha−1 of P2O5. Phosphate fertilization also influences shoot growth, with an increase of 0.26 g plant−1 for each kilogram of P2O5 supplied, with a maximum production of 7.8 t ha−1. The concentration of potassium, sulfur and copper in the aerial part of plants is influenced by phosphate fertilization. The greater spacing results in a greater concentration of most nutrients in the biomass. The average oil content in the seeds is not influenced by spacing or phosphorus fertilization, being estimated at 16.32% of the dry mass of the grains.