Agronomic performance of castor under different growing conditions

Castor has emerged as an oilseed species capable of meeting the demand of the Brazilian market. Thus, there is a need for studies to evaluate the different growing conditions that this species can be cultivated in order to subsidize their production. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of different growing conditions on agronomic performance of seven castor bean cultivars grown in Savanna-Pantanal ecotone region. The trial was conducted at Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana Campus. Treatments consisted of seven castor bean cultivars (BRS Energia, IAC-2028, IAC-Guarani, BRS Nordestina, BRS Paraguaçu, IAC-80 and IAC-226) and three growing conditions (with weed control and without topdress nitrogen; with topdress nitrogen at 80 kg ha-1 and with weed control; without weed control and absence of topdress nitrogen) in two agricultural years (2011 and 2012), arranged in randomized block design with three replications in factorial arrangement (7 x 3 x 2). The following variables were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of bunches, number of fruits and fruit yield. The cultivars BRS Energia, IAC 2028, IAC Guarani and BRS Paraguaçu obtained greater fruit yield. Topdress nitrogen and weed control provided to cultivars the highest stem diameter, number of bunches, number of fruits and fruit yield.