Three experiments were carried out in Adamantina at the Experimental Station of Agronomy of Alta Paulista, Instituto Agronômico (IAC), State of São Paulo, Brazil, on a Dark Red Latosol during 1989-1992, in order to study the effects of different row widths covered by weeds on the yield, height and number of racemes of IAC-80 castor bean cultivar. Hoed rows of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 m wide were studied. An extra treatment had the entire plot covered with weeds mantained at 0.3 m height. The row space used was 3.0 x 1.0 m and the plots were 9.0 x 5.0 m. The experiment was set in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Hoeing row width of 1.0 m or less reduced raceme emission, plant height and seed yields.
Ricinus communis L.; castor bean; Ricinus communis L.; width of hoeing; weeds; interference; erosion