Main Article Content
Keywords
Array
Abstract
Objective: To determine the influence of fertilization on growth and seed yield of five accessions of castor bean (Ricinus communisL.) in hydroponics.
Design/methodology/approach: Five outstanding accessions of the ColPos-Campus SLP castor bean collection were grown under hydroponics: El Orito (EO), Encarnación de Díaz (ED), Salinas (SA), Ranchería de Guadalupe (RG) and San Luis (SL). The NPK proven fertilization levels (ppm) were: low (NB; 140-50-150), medium (NM; 210-80-250); high (NA; 280, 110, 350), and a control (SF; without fertilizers). The experimental design was a randomized blocks, with a 5x4 factorial arrangement (accession x fertilization level).
Results: The differences in seed production were only significant (?= 0.05) between the fertilization levels (1103, 973 and 967 g plant-1, for NB, NM, and NA, respectively) and the control treatment (31 g plant-1); there were no differences among accessions, having ED the highest seed yield (681 g plant-1). Regarding plant height, accessions without fertilizer (SF) reached 60 cm, while fertilized plants had a, average height of 170 cm, being SA the highest (180 cm). On the other hand, the highest oil content (38.4%) was obtained with the ML fertilization.
Limitations of the study/implications: The present study did not show obvious limitations.
Findings/conclusions
: Regarding seed yield, there were significant differences only between not fertilizing and fertilizing at any level. Among the levels with fertilization, however, the differences were not significant, as well as between accessions
