Response of castor bean cultivar BRS 188 Paraguaçu to application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
Authors
Susane Ribeiro
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
Lúcia Chaves
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
Hugo Guerra
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
Hans Gheyi
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
Rogério Lacerda
Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - UFCG
Keywords:
Ricinus communis L, Plant nutrition, N, P, K fertilization.
Abstract
The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on the growth and production of seeds of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.). Three experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, in Campina Grande, Paraiba State, Brazil. The experimental design was a completely randomized with three replications and five treatments, with reference dose of 40:90:60 kg ha-1 of N:P2O5:K2O, respectively. A single castor bean plant, cultivar BRS 188 - Paraguaçu, was cultivated in each experimental unit. The treatments of the first, second and third experiment consisted of application of five N levels (40 to 200 kg ha-1), five P2O5 levels (30 to 150 kg ha-1) and five K2O levels (30 to 150 kg ha-1). Plant height, stem diameter, number and length of leaves were measured at 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 days after planting (DAP). The unbalanced fertilization affected the development and seed production of castor bean, and the best response of the plants was observed at levels of 200 kg ha-1 de N; 120 kg ha-1 de P2O5 and 150 kg ha-1 de K2O.
