A field experiment with ramie (Boehmeria nivea Gaud.) cv. Murakami, was conducted in Dusky - Red Latosol at Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The treatments consisted of irrigated and non-irrigated plots with and without annual fertilization. The sprinkler irrigation was applied when 60-70% of the available water was depleted from the first 50cm of soil profile. Irrigation brought an average increase in crude fiber production of 175% in relation to unfertilized non-irrigated treatment. Fertilization also increased production, but to a lesser degree than irrigation. Both treatments combined increased fiber production by 212%. Analyzing the 82 irrigations applied during the 60-month period of experimentation, it was concluded that an irrigation system for growing ramie at Campinas should be designed for application interval of nine days, in order to attend 80% of the irrigation necessity throughout the year.
Boehmeria nivea Gaud.; fiber plant; irrigation frequency; fertilization