Rocket crop has presented increment of production in Brazil. In the other hand it has been noted the research in this crop is rare and insufficient to give enough support to increase yield. On the strength of it the present experiment had the aim to avaluate yield response on rocket crop in function of within row spacing with density of two or four seedlings per hole, during autumn and winter season in Ponta Grossa (PR). The experimental design was a randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments were arranged in a factorial scheme 4 x 2, being four within row spacing (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) and two density of seedlings per cell (two or four). The seedlings were produced on trays of 200 cells under protected cultivation, with the cultivar Cultivada, during the period of March, 28 to April, 16 on Autumn season, and at July, 11 to August, 5 on winter season. Four or two seeds per cell were sowed. Each plot had 32 plants, arranged in four rows spaced 20 cm among them. At harvest at thirty days of transplanting on autumn season and at thirty-five days on winter season it was avaluated: lenght of upper part, leaves number, fresh and dried matter and yield of fresh matter.m-2. On the individual plant characteristic it was observed superior yield response of two seedlings/cell density and within row as 15 and 20 cm on lenght of upper part, leaves number, fresh and dried matter weight per plant. However, considering the usual way of commercialization of rocket mainly on bunch the narrow within row spacing as 5 cm on autumn season and both the narrow within row spacing and density of four seedlings promoted the highest yield on fresh matter weight.m-2. Compared to winter season it was observed earlier harvest about 11 days in autumn when predominated temperatures around 20(0) C.
Eruca sativa; seedlings density; within row spacing
