Influência da densidade do solo no desenvolvimento inicial do pinhão-manso cultivado em Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate theinfluence of soil densities on the early growth ofthephysic nut(Jatrophacurcas L.). The experiment wascarried out in 10.6 dm3 pots in a greenhouse. The soilused in the experiment wasa clay-texture Oxisolcollected in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Paraná State, Brazil. The experimental designwas randomized blockswith five levels ofsoil density (1.08, 1.22, 1.36, 1.50and 1.64kg dm-3) with four repetitions. Biometric and plant tissue evaluations were performed 120 days after plant emergence. It was found a reduction by 25% in plant heightat a density of1.64kg dm-3 when compared todensity of1.08kg dm-3. For root length, the reduction was approximately 24%, 35%, 54% and 66%at the densities of1.22,1.36,1.50 and1.64 kg dm-3, respectively, when compared with density of1.08kg dm-3. Limitation of shoot development was found from the estimated density of 1.26 kg dm-3, with a reduction in the number of leaves, leaf area and dry weight of shoots. The root system development and content of P and K in plants of physic nut decreased linearly as the density increased.