Irrigation water depths and plant density of castor bean cv. BRS Energia crop

Abstract

The search of alternative crops for production of biodiesel, inserts the castor plants in the program of family agriculture as source of employment and income. With objective to study the effects of different water depths and populations of castor bean cv. BRS Energia, from germination to production, an experiment was carried out at Experimental Farm of Embrapa Algodão, located in the muncipality of Barbalha-CE, in randomized block design with plots in strips. In Experiment sixteen treatments resulting from the factorial combination of four water depths (294.22; 382.50; 479.75 and 679.75 mm) and four plant densities (35,460, 39,682, 45,045 and 52,083 plants ha^-1) were used with four repetitions. The irrigation method used was by sprinkler, where the water depths were in accordance with line source sprinkler irrigation in strips. On the basis of results of the study, it was verified that water depth of 479.75 mm in castor bean cv. BRS Energia corresponded to maximum response in plant height (105.74 cm); leaf area (3,786.24 cm²) and productivity (1,937.40 kg ha^-1). In population of 35,640 plants ha^-1 a productivity of 566.77 kg^-1 of 2^nd cluster was obtained.