Yield of two castor bean cultivars under different depths of supplemental irrigation

This study evaluated the yield, components of production and oil content of two castor bean cultivars through drip irrigation with different water depths. The research was conducted in 2009 in an Oxisol clay in the experimental field in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial scheme with five water depths (0, 25, 50, 100 and 150% of evapotranspiration for drip irrigation) in two castor bean cultivars (IAC 2028 and IAC 80) with four replications. The irrigation schedule was predetermined up to two irrigations per week except on rainy days. The increase of irrigation provided significant increase in most components of production and crop yield without changing the oil content of seeds. The application of higher water depth increased yield by 80% in relation to the treatment that received no supplemental irrigation.