ABSTRACT
The castor bean is an oilseed crop, with the oil from its seeds having many industrial applications. In northeaster Brazil it stands out as an alternative for generating employment and income in family farming. However, emphasis has currently been given to its use in the production of renewable fuel (biodiesel). The choice of suitable spacing and times of planting are basic technological steps that can favour greater grain production per plant, by the emergence of more racemes with an increase in the size and number of fruits. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of different plant populations of the castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) cv. BRS Energia, on oil content and productivity. The experiment was carried out on the Experimental Farm of Embrapa Algodão, located in the town of Barbalha, in the state of Ceará, in a randomised block design with five plant populations (10,000; 16,666; 25,000; 50,000 and 100,000 plants ha-1), and four blocks. The spray method of irrigation was used. Based on the results of the study, it was found that plant growth increased with the increase in population from 10,000 to 100,000 h-1, grain productivity adjusted to the populations under test, oil content decreased with the increased population density, and the production components under study decreased with the increasing plant population in the range under consideration.
Key words:
Plant density; Spacing; Oil content;
Ricinus communis
